GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN BRAINS OF CHILDREN - PROGNOSTIC VARIABLES IN MORTALITY, COURSE, AND OUTCOME

A retrospective study of 51 children presenting with craniocerebral gu nshot lesions was carried out to identify predictors of outcome. The p atients ranged in age from 2 months to 17 years, with a mean of 14.5 y ears. The outcome was good in 20 patients, and seven and four were mod erately and severely disabled, respectively. Twenty patients died, Sta tistical analysis showed prognostic significance of the admission Glas gow Coma Score (GCS), computerized tomographic findings of intraventri cular hemorrhage and midline shift, and metabolic abnormalities, inclu ding hypokalemia and hyperglycemia. These prognostic factors may have implications regarding counseling of families, utilization of resource s, and organ transplantation.