Lv et al identified risk factors associated with dysautonomia following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). These factors can help to identify patients who may require more aggressive management. The authors are from Shanghai Institute of Neurosurgery and the Second Military Medical University in Shanghai.
Features of dysautonomia (autonomic dysregulation) following TBI:
(1) hyperthermia
(2) tachycardia
(3) tachypnea
(4) hypertension
(5) hyperhidrosis
(6) decerebrate or decorticate posturing
(7) dystonia, rigidity and/or spasticity
Risk factors for dysautonomia:
(1) younger age
(2) diffuse axonal injury (DAI, see 29.08.83)
The age distribution for patients with dysautonomia was 26 +/- 10 years. The age distribution for patients who did not develop dysautonomia was 44 +/- 16. The group with the greater risk is <= 27 years, with overlapping risk from 28 to 36 years.
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