Complications Experienced by 20 Elderly Patients (Group 1) and 12 Younger Patients (Group 2) After Multisystem Trauma
| Complication | Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory failure* (requiring ICU) | 5 | 3 |
| Pneumonia (no ICU) | 4 | 2 |
| Congestive heart failure/cardiac | 3 | 0 |
| Urinary† | 9 | 4 |
| Renal failure | 1 | 0 |
| Delirium 3 0 Wound infection | 1 | 2 |
| Confusion not yet diagnosed | 5 | 0 |
| Alcohol withdrawal | 3 | 1 |
| Other‡ | 3 | 1 |
| Total complications | 37 | 13§ |
↵* Patients with a diagnosis of respiratory failure due to pneumonia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism and acute respiratory distress syndrome were not recounted in the categories of pneumonia or congestive heart failure. These patients required intensive care unit (ICU) consultation with or without intubation.
↵† Urinary tract infections or retention requiring treatment. Half of the elderly patients also had cardiorespiratory complications (e.g., pneumonia or myocardial infarction).
↵‡ Organ dysfunction secondary to prolonged ICU stay for head injury, fever of unknown origin, and depression resulting in self-neglect.
↵§ p < 0.001