title: Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study was designed to review the incidence of VTE in critically injured patients with an isolated TBI using a standardized venous duplex color-flow Doppler imaging program and to compare it with the overall and high-risk trauma populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trauma patients who underwent lower-extremity surveillance color-flow Doppler imaging for VTE were identified. Analyses included patient demographics, characteristics of TBI, VTE risk factors, prophylaxis, incidence, location, and patient outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5,787 patients were admitted during the study period. Of these, 539 (9%) were deemed high risk for VTE. The incidence of VTE in patients with isolated TBI (88, 16%) was 25%. All patients and the high-risk population had incidences of 2% and 17%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of VTE in isolated TBI is greatest in patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Early VTE prophylaxis is warranted in TBI patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, P.O. Box 26901, 1122 NE 13th 3rd floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. kent-denson@cox.net
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Denson
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigliazzo
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brackett
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Roxie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology