Injury
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From 1978 to 1991, 126 multiply-injured patients of 65 years and over were admitted to the Department of Traumatology and Emergency Surgery of the University Hospitals of Leuven. The seriousness of the injury was evaluated using the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Traffic accident (57 per cent) and a simple fall at home (30 per cent) were the main causes of injury. ⋯ Also, the need for early intubation and continued ventilation were predictive of survival (P < 0.001). Nevertheless, this need for respiratory assistance was not an indication for withdrawing support as 9 per cent of the survivors also required endotracheal intubation for 5 days or longer. In our opinion, aggressive trauma care for the elderly is justified.