A brief episode of hypotension increases mortality in critically ill trauma patients.

Objective: Hypotension is associated with increased mortality, however previous studies have failed to account for the depth and duration of hypotension. We evaluated the effect of the duration of hypotension on outcome in injured patients.

Methods: Trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from 1999 to 2000 were prospectively evaluated. Patients transferred to a ward
Results: Patients with hypotension during the first 24 hours of ICU care had an increased mortality rate. A brief (
Conclusion: Brief episodes of hypotension are associated with an increased risk of death in patients requiring admission to the ICU after injury and a longer ICU recovery for those who survive.