Comparison Of Intracranial Blood Pressure (ICP) Monitored Versus Non Monitored Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

Background: This study aimed at comparing mortality and morbidity in TBI patients, with and without ICP monitoring. Method: This study was designed as a retrospective case-control study. The study compared mortality and morbidity (bleeding and meningitis) outcomes, length of hospitalization, and trends of Glasco coma scale changes in patients who underwent ICP monitoring (case group, n=11) with non-monitored (control group, n=11) patients. These subjects were matched for age and sex. Results: Groups were matched for age and demographic variables (P 0.05). However, initial GCS in case group was significantly lower than controls (P=0.009). So assuming that this variable is a confounding factor, other comparisons were made by adjusting the initial GCS. ICP monitoring had a statistical association with mortality (OR= 22.80, 95% CI: 2.28-227.76; p 0.0001), but not with meningitis. After adjusting for baseline GCS, there were no differences between adjusted and non-adjusted results; but small sample size restricts this statement. The adjusted means of GCS on day 1 for case group and control group were 9.04 and 12.44, respectively (p=0.045). The adjusted means of GCS on day 2 for case group and control group were 10.27 and 13.23, respectively (p=0.073). Conclusion: The retrospective case control design failed to assess the hypothesis of associations between ICP monitoring and outcomes of TBI, in our small sample size study.