[Traumatic head injury in children in south Tunisia epidemiology, clinical manifestations and evolution. 454 cases].

Aim: To determine epidemiological, causes, clinical and Para clinical manifestations and outcome in children with traumatic head injury in south Tunisia.

Methods: A retrospective study over a 8 year period (1997-2004) of 454 children's with head injury admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a university hospital (Sfax-Tunisia). Basic demographic, clinical, biological and radiological data were recorded on admission and during the ICU stay.

[Acute fatty liver of pregnancy. "Incidence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis"].

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a rare, potentially fatal complication that occurs in the third trimester or early postpartum period. It generally appears between weeks 30 and 38. Usually the APLF symptoms start one to two weeks before hospitalization with nausea, emesis, general uneasiness, jaundice, epigastric pain and other symptoms.

Epidemiological, clinical characteristics and outcome of severe scorpion envenomation in South Tunisia: multivariate analysis of 951 cases.

The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to describe both epidemiologically and clinically manifestations following severe scorpion envenomation and to define simple predictive factors which can be used in routine practice in general Intensive Care Units (ICU) as an indicator of poor prognosis. Cases were collected from hospital patients' files during 13-year (1990-2002) period in the medical Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital (Sfax - Tunisia). The diagnosis of scorpion envenomation was based on a history of scorpion sting.

The effect of ventilator-associated pneumonia on the prognosis of head trauma patients.

Background: To investigate the effect of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) on the prognosis of head trauma patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control study in which 57 head trauma patients with VAP were matched to 57 head trauma patients without VAP. Matching criteria were age (+/-5 years), Glasgow Coma Scale score (+/-2), Injury Severity Score (+/-5), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (+/-5), and duration of exposure to mechanical ventilation.