AI-Based System to Treat Brain Injury Developed

Novel artificial intelligence (AI) based system is capable of treating patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), reports a new study.

Novel artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithm could help doctors treat patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The findings of the study are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The algorithms can predict the probability of the patient dying within 30-days with an accuracy of 80-85 percent, said the study.

Head Injury | Brain Injury Overview Types Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment
Head injury or traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of disability among children and young adults that leads to varying degrees of physical and mental stability. Fortunately, it is also one of the preventable brain disorder.

‘Traumatic brain injury is a significant global cause of mortality and morbidity with an growing incidence, especially in low-and-middle-income countries. ’
Read More..

"A dynamic prognostic model like this has not been presented before. Although this is a proof-of-concept and it will still take some time before we can implement algorithms like this into daily clinical practice, our study reflects how and into what direction modern intensive care is evolving", said Indian-origin researcher and study author Rahul Raj from Helsinki University Hospital in Finland.

The most severe TBIs are treated in intensive care units (ICU), but in spite of the proper and high-quality care, about one in three patients die.

This is why researchers at Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) started to develop artificial intelligence (AI) based algorithm that could help doctors treat patients with severe TBI.

World Head Injury Awareness Day
Every year, World Head Injury Awareness Day is observed on 20th March. The theme for this year 2018 is #ChangeYourMind, which aims to create awareness about the trauma of brain injury.

At its best, such an algorithm could predict the outcome of the individual patient and give objective data regarding the condition and prognosis of the patient and how it changes during treatment.

"We have developed two separate algorithms. The first algorithm is simpler and is based only upon objective monitor data. The second algorithm is slightly more complex and includes data regarding the level of consciousness, measured by the widely used Glasgow Coma Scale score," said study researcher Eetu Pursiainen.

Visual Problems in Children Following Concussion Cause Academic Difficulties
Vision problems were commonly reported in children with concussions and were independently associated with those reporting academic difficulties.

As expected, the accuracy of the more complex algorithm is slightly better than for, the simpler algorithm.

"Still, the accuracy of both algorithms is surprisingly good, considering that the simpler model is based upon only three main variables and the more complex upon five main variables," Pursiainen said.

New Biomarker Found For Concussion
Concussion is a form of brain injury which is common among athletes. New biomarker that measures brain activity for processing sound may help in diagnosis.

In the future, the algorithms still have to be validated in national and international external datasets, the researchers concluded.

Source-IANS