• Vesna Marjanović, Vesna Novak, Ljubinka Velicković, and Goran Marjanović.
• Centar za anesteziju i reanimaciju, Klinicki centar Nis. prof.marjanovic@gmail.com
• Med. Pregl. 2011 Jul 1;64(7-8):403-7.

IntroductionPatients with severe traumatic brain injury are at a risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, etiology, risk factors for development of ventilator-associated pneumonia and outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.Material And MethodsA retrospective study was done in 72 patients with severe traumatic brain injury, who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours.ResultsVentilator-associated pneumonia was found in 31 of 72 (43.06%) patients with severe traumatic brain injury. The risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were: prolonged mechanical ventilation (12.42 vs 4.34 days, p < 0.001), longer stay at intensive care unit (17 vs 5 days, p < 0.001) and chest injury (51.61 vs 19.51%, p < 0.009) compared to patients without ventilator-associated pneumonia. The mortality rate in the patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia was higher (38.71 vs 21.95%, p = 0.12).ConclusionThe development of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with severe traumatic brain injury led to the increased morbidity due to the prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer stay at intensive care unit and chest injury, but had no effect on mortality.

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