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Research Article| Volume 22, ISSUE 5, P353-356, September 1991

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Preventable deaths after head injury: a clinical audit of performance

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(91)90092-S
Preventable deaths after head injury: a clinical audit of performance
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      Abstract

      A retrospective trauma audit of 267 consecutive patients presenting to the resuscitation room of an accident and emergency department identified 107 (M = 0.73) patients with CNS predominant injuries in a period of 1 year. The mortality rate was 33 per cent.
      Application of the TRISS method indicated that 18 (51 per cent) of the 35 deaths (Z = 5.74, P < 0.001) were mathematically unexpected; no unexpected survivors were identified. Subsequent peer review agreed that death was preventable in 11 cases. The peer panel suggested that the lack of an on-site neurosurgical service may have affected the outcome of this group of patients adversely.
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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: January 11, 1991

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-1383(91)90092-S

      Copyright

      © 1991 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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