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M Thicoipe

Publications and source records attributed to M Thicoipe.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Epidemiology of severe brain injuries: a prospective population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to estimate annual incidences of hospitalization for severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (maximum Abbreviated Injury Score in the head region [HAIS] 4 or 5) in a defined population of 2.8 million. METHODS: Severe TBI patients were included in the emergency departments in the 19 hospitals of the region. A prospective data form was completed with initial neurologic state, computed tomographic scan lesions, associated injuries, length of unconsciousness, and length of stay in acute care centers. Outcome at the time the patient left acute hospitalization was retrospectively assessed from medical notes. RESULTS: During the 1-year period (1996), 497 residents fulfilled the inclusion criteria, leading to an annual incidence rate of 17.3 per 100,000 population; 58.1% were HAIS5. Mortality rate was 5.2 per 100,000. Men accounted for 71.4% of cases. Median age was 44 years, with a quarter of patients more than 70 years old. Traffic accidents were the most frequent causes (48.3%), but falls accounted for 41.8% of all patients. Age and severity were different according to the major categories of external causes. In HAIS5 patients, 86.5% were considered as comatose (coma lasting more than 24 hours or leading to immediate death) but only 60.9% had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score < 9. In the HAIS4 group, 7.2% had an initial Glasgow Coma Scale score < 9. Fatality rates were 30.0% in the whole study group, 7.7% in HAIS4, 12.8% in HAIS5 without coma, and 51.2% in HAIS5 with coma. CONCLUSION: This study shows a decrease in severe TBI incidence when results are compared with another study conducted 10 years earlier in the same region. This is because of a decrease in traffic accidents. However, this results in an increase in the proportion of falls in elderly patients and an increase in the median age in our patients. This increased age influences the mortality rate.

Abbreviated Injury Scale↗

The endocrine pancreas in brain-dead donors. A prospective study in 25 patients.

To determine whether hyperglycemia in brain-dead donors is a sign of endocrine pancreas insufficiency, we studied pancreatic function in 25 consecutive brain dead patients. Blood samples were drawn at 2-hr intervals from donor referral until organ procurement to analyze glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels. After donor retrieval, two specimens were taken from the pancreas for a subsequent immunohistochemical examination. At referral mean glycemia was 13.60 +/- 1.49 mmol/L, and there was a large range of plasma glucose levels (4.6-31.6). Of 25 patients, 16 had glycemia above 10 mmol/L. At organ procurement a mean of 20 hr later, mean glycemia as 8.61 +/- 0.58 mmol/L (P < 0.005 with paired t test), and only 5 patients had glycemia above 10 mmol/L. Hyperglycemia was associated with elevated insulin and C-peptide levels during donor management. An elevated C-peptide/glucose molar ratio might be considered a sign of peripheral insulin resistance. Hyperglycemia above 25 mmol/L could not be related to the amount of glucose administered during donor maintenance. Severe hyperglycemia had a natural tendency to be partly corrected. Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations were available in 17 cases and can be considered normal. It is concluded that endocrine pancreatic function can be considered effective after brain death. The mechanism of the relative insulin resistance of these patients requires further study. Blood glucose levels, in the range observed in this study, are not a good donor criterion of endocrine pancreatic function before pancreas transplantation.

Adolescent↗

The epidemiology of head trauma in Aquitaine (France), 1986: a community-based study of hospital admissions and deaths.

This paper reports the findings of a study of head trauma conducted over a one-year period within a defined region with a population of 2.7 million (Aquitaine, France). It includes cases resulting in death prior to hospitalization or requiring hospitalization. During the one-year period, 391 deaths and 8549 hospital admissions due to head trauma occurred, yielding an annual estimate of 8940 head-injured people. The immediate case-fatality rate was 4.4%. Among non-fatal cases, 80% were mild, 11% moderate and 9% severe. The overall annual incidence was 281/100,000 in both sexes (384 and 185/100,000 in males and females respectively). The annual death rate was 22/100,000 (33 and 12, respectively). Patterns of incidence by age and sex were in general agreement with earlier studies. The main causes of head trauma were traffic accidents (60%) and falls (33%). One-third of hospitalized patients had no injury other than the head trauma. The most frequently associated injuries were those involving extremities, whereas the most severe were those involving the abdomen. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) ranged from 4 to 66, with a mean of 9 and a median of 5. At the eighth day following injury, 25% of hospital-treated patients were still hospitalized and 2% had died. The outcome correlated well with the ISS.

Accidental Falls↗

[Functioning of an organ procurement center in Bordeau].

The ever increasing practice of transplantation requires the creation of units specialized in the reception of potential organ donors. The functioning of the organ procurement centre at Bordeaux is described, and the results of 100 procurements performed over a 27-month period are reported. The technical support (electroencephalography, laboratories, etc.) ensures that the donors are under permanent care. Recipients chosen in priority are "super-emergencies" and local patients. One half of the 100 donors came from the Gironde department and the others from 6 neighbouring departments. Procurement takes place 6 hours on average after the 2nd inactive electroencephalogram, and it is multiple in 87 per cent of the cases. Two hundred and fifty-two organs were obtained, including 166 kidneys (8 of which were not utilized), 50 hearts and 36 livers; 55 per cent remained in Bordeaux and 45 per cent were sent to other parts of France or abroad. The cerebral death reception centre must be self-sufficient, independent and permanently accessible. Ideally, local co-ordination is ensured by a physician. Procurements in peripheral hospital are possible but difficult to organize. A greater sensitization, a better regional collaboration and a widening of the criteria used in the selection of donors should result in a further increase in the number of multiple organ procurements.

Adolescent↗

Incidence, causes and severity of injuries in Aquitaine, France: a community-based study of hospital admissions and deaths.

This paper reports the results of a study of injuries conducted during a one-year period within a defined geographic population of 2.7 million persons (Aquitaine, France). Cases were defined as unintentional or intentional injuries, either resulting in immediate death before reaching hospital or requiring hospital admission. During the one-year period, 1,181 deaths were registered and 8,190 hospital admissions occurred during the sample periods. The three leading causes of injury were falls (40 per cent), traffic accidents (27 per cent), and poisonings (15 per cent). The overall incidence of injuries was 136 per 10,000 person years. Incidence by sex and age was assessed for the main external causes. The ratios of nonfatal to fatal cases were calculated by sex and age and by external cause. The origin of the injury was suicide in 14 per cent of cases and assault or homicide in 3 per cent. The severity of injuries, assessed using an automatic computation of the Injury Severity Score (ISS), ranged from 1 to 66 with a mean of 6.9. Substantial variations of ISS were observed according to external cause. At the 8th day following admission, 31 per cent of hospital-treated patients were still hospitalized and 0.8 per cent had died in hospital. The outcome correlated well with the ISS.

Accidental Falls↗