Management of Patients with Severe Head Injury

Background: Management of patients with severe head injury in the intensive care unit is extremely challenging due to the complex domain. An Expert system - an innovative tool was adopted to automate the management process.

Material and Method: A study was conducted among the Head injury Patients of Government General Hospital (GGH), Chennai. The necessary information like socio demographic factors, medical history, Clinical parameters and Clinical symptoms were recorded. Based on the Neurosurgeon's opinion on important clinical factors, an expert system Management of Head Injury Patients (MHIP) has been developed

Results: The factors older Age (p=0.001), lower GCS (p=0.008) and abnormal Respiratory Rate (p=0.003) were found to be statistically significant and also the most consistent risk factors of mortality.

Conclusions: The cumulative effect of the immediate and indirect effects of head injury is usually devastating, not just for the victim, but also for his or her family. An expert system MHIP would definitely help the clinician in identifying the patient who needs the immediate medical attention.