Impact of preinjury anticoagulation in patients with traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to examine the impact of various anticoagulation agents in head injury patients.


METHODS
The medical records and trauma registry were used to analyze the data. All adult trauma patients using aspirin, clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), or heparin and admitted to the hospital with computed tomography (CT) scan evidence of brain injuries were included in the study. Patients were classified into three groups based on medication used.


RESULTS
From July 2004 through December 2006, 29 patients admitted to the trauma center were found to be on anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents. The control group consisted of 63 patients with CT evidence of head injury not on antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications. There were no significant differences among the groups regarding age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score, mortality (P = 0.65), ventilator days (P = 0.69), intensive care unit (ICU) days (P = 0.65), total hospital days (P = 0.41) or discharge disposition (P = 0.65).


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-head injury anticoagulation did not have any significant impact on outcomes.
Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, 1945 State Route 33, Neptune, NJ 07754, USA. nahmed@meridianhealth.com
Nasim
N
Ahmed
Christie
C
Bialowas
Yen-Hong
YH
Kuo
Leonard
L
Zawodniak
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors