Neuro-link, a computer-assisted database for head injury in intensive care

Reliable information is vital for clinical trials, so we developed a databa se, for head trauma victims admitted to neuro-intensive care units (NICU). This database, first step in a sequential project, comprises 176 selected f ields mainly focused on the early post-traumatic phase and has a user-frien dly computerized interface. The software was tested for a trimester in Is I talian neuro-intensive care units. The paper describes the main features of the database, the results of a three months' data collection test, its lim itations and its potential improvements. A description of the database fields and a brief summary of the 282 patient s included so far are also presented.