title: Early propranolol after traumatic brain injury is associated with lower mortality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β-Adrenergic receptor blockers (BBs) administered after trauma blunt the cascade of immune and inflammatory changes associated with injury. BBs are associated with improved outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Propranolol may be an ideal BB because of its nonselective inhibition and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. We determined if early administration of propranolol after TBI is associated with lower mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  All adults (age ≥ 18 years) with moderate-to-severe TBI (head Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] score, 3-5) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission at a Level I trauma center from January 1, 2013, to May 31, 2015, were prospectively entered into a database. Administration of early propranolol was dosed within 24 hours of admission at 1 mg intravenous every 6 hours. Patients who received early propranolol after TBI (EPAT) were compared with those who did not (non-EPAT). Data including demographics, hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and mortality were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 29 months, 440 patients with moderate-to-severe TBI met inclusion criteria. Early propranolol was administered to 25% (109 of 440) of the patients. The EPAT cohort was younger (49.6 years vs. 60.4 years, p < 0.001), had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (11.7 vs. 12.4, p = 0.003), had lower head AIS score (3.6 vs. 3.9, p = 0.001), had higher admission heart rate (95.8 beats/min vs. 88.4 beats/min, p = 0.002), and required more days on the ventilator (5.9 days vs. 2.6 days, p < 0.001). Similarities were noted in sex, Injury Severity Score (ISS), admission systolic blood pressure, hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and mortality rate. Multivariate regression showed that EPAT was independently associated with lower mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.25; p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After adjusting for predictors of mortality, early administration of propranolol after TBI was associated with improved survival. Future studies are needed to identify additional benefits and optimal dosing regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic study, level IV.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Trauma and Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Megan Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Galinos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barmparas
authors.forename: Gretchen M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Rodrigo F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Alban
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: Rex
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Margulies
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ley
mesh_terms: D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol