The present study aimed to investigate whether BNP measurement selleck inhibitor can establish head injury in patients presenting to the emergency department with minor

head trauma. If the answer is yes, excess CTs could be avoided which will reduce unnecessary costs and patients’ radiation exposure. Materials and method This was a prospective, case–control study conducted at the emergency department of the Numune Training and Research Hospital. It included a total of 162 patients with head trauma admitting to the emergency department who met the study inclusion criteria. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed on Table 1. Table 1 The criteria for inclusion or exclusion of patients to the study Criteria for inclusion to the study Criteria for exclusion from the study To be admitted to the emergency department because of a head trauma. To be younger than 18 years old. To be older than 18 years old. To refuse to participate the study. To give his/her consent to participate in study. Having a known neurological disease.   Having a known cardiac insufficiency. Demographic features of the study participants, trauma mechanisms, concurrent injuries, time elapsed after trauma, GCS scores, findings on physical examination, cranial CT results were also recorded. Trauma severity was assessed

using GCS. The study population was grouped into 2 groups as cranial CT-negative group (Group 1) that had normal head CT findings and linear fracture, and cranial

CT-positive group (Group 2) that had intracranial abnormalities BGJ398 in vitro including brain edema, epidural or subdural hematoma, subarachnoid or intraparenchymal hemorrhage, cerebral contusion, or a depressed skull fracture. Cranial CT reports were retrieved from the hospital automation system. The study patients underwent a head CT as necessary Methocarbamol and serum BNP measurement with Abbot Architect kit (normal range of 0–100 pg/ml) at admission. Clinical and demographic features of the patients were stored in a computer database. Serum BNP levels were compared between both groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 15.0 software package. Mean ± SD, median, interquartile range, and percentage values were calculated for demographic and clinical features of the study participants. Median and interquartile range values were calculated for BNP levels. Categorical variables were compared with χ2 test. The normality of the study data was tested by means of One Sample Kolmogorov Smirnov test. As a result of the analysis, non-parametric tests were used in the analysis. As such, Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison of two independent continuous groups, while Kruskal-Wallis test was used for multiple continuous groups. Spearman’s test used to investigation a association between Serum BNP levels and elapsed time after the event. A significance level of p < 0.05 was accepted for all statistical tests.