Early Chemoprophylaxis Against Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Timing to start of chemoprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains controversial. We hypothesize that early administration is not associated with increased intracranial hemorrhage.

METHODS:

A retrospective study of adult patients with TBI following blunt injury was performed. Patients with penetrating brain injury, any moderate/severe organ injury other than the brain, need for craniotomy/craniectomy, death within 24 hours of admission, or progression of bleed on 6 hour follow-up head computed tomography scan were excluded. Patients were divided into early (≤24 hours) and late (>24 hours) cohorts based on time to initiation of chemoprophylaxis. Progression of bleed was the primary outcome.

RESULTS:

264 patients were enrolled, 40% of whom were in the early cohort. The average time to VTE prophylaxis initiation was 17 hours and 47 hours in the early and late groups, respectively (P < .0001). There was no difference in progression of bleed (5.6% vs. 7%, P = .67), craniectomy/-craniotomy rate (1.9% vs. 2.5%, P = .81), or VTE rate (0% vs. 2.5%, P = .1).

CONCLUSION:

Early chemoprophylaxis is not associated with progression of hemorrhage or need for neurosurgical intervention in patients with TBI and a stable head CT 7 hours following injury.

• Authors: Lisbi Rivas, Michael Vella, Tammy Ju, Joseph S Fernandez-Moure, Andrew Sparks, Mark J Seamon, Babak Sarani
• Journal: The American surgeon (Am Surg) Vol. 88 Issue 2 Pg. 187-193 (Feb 2022) ISSN: 1555-9823 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33502231 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Factor Xa Inhibitors
• Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
• Heparin

Topics

• Adult
• Anticoagulants (administration & dosage)
• Brain Injuries, Traumatic (complications, mortality)
• Chemoprevention
• Craniotomy (statistics & numerical data)
• Disease Progression
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Factor Xa Inhibitors (administration & dosage)
• Heparin (administration & dosage)
• Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Intracranial Hemorrhages (diagnostic imaging, etiology)
• Middle Aged
• Patient Discharge (statistics & numerical data)
• Pulmonary Embolism (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Venous Thromboembolism (epidemiology, mortality, prevention & control)
• Venous Thrombosis (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Wounds, Nonpenetrating (complications)