ATBIS

ATBIS: Australasian Traumatic Brain Injury Study

ATBIS was a prospective 6 month inception cohort study of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Australia and New Zealand. It assessed information on the mechanisms of injury, occurrence of secondary brain injuries, management strategies, and long term outcome at 6 and 12 months. The role of the ANZIC-RC was to analyse the original data set, and prepare and submit manuscripts.

Findings: There were 635 patients recruited from 16 centres. The mean (+/-SD) age was 41.6 years +/- 19.6 years; 74.2% were men; 61.4% were due to vehicular trauma, 24.9% were falls in elderly patients, and 57.2% had severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score <=8). Secondary brain insults were recorded in 28.5% and 34.8% underwent neurosurgical procedures before intensive care unit (ICU) admission. There was concordance with TBI and ICU practice guidelines, although intracranial pressure monitoring was used in 44.5% patients with severe TBI. Twelve-month mortality was 26.9% in all patients and 35.1% in patients with severe TBI. Favourable outcomes at 12 months were recorded in 58.8% of all patients and in 48.5% of patients with severe TBI.

Publications: The publications relating to this study include:

Myburgh JA, Cooper DJ, Finfer SR, Venkatesh B, Jones D, Higgins A, et al. Epidemiology and 12-month outcomes from traumatic brain injury in Australia and New Zealand. Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection and Critical Care. 2008;64(4):854-62. (DOI: 10.1097/TA.0b013e3180340e77)

Collaboration: The ATBIS project was conducted in collaboration with the ANZICS-CTG.

Endorsement: The ATBIS project was endorsed by the ANZICS-CTG.