Utility of INR For Prediction of Delayed Intracranial Hemorrhage Among Warfarin Users with Head Injury

BackgroundIncidence of delayed intracranial hemorrhage (DICH) in patients on warfarin has been controversial. No previous literature has reported the utility of international normalized ratio (INR) in predicting traumatic DICH.ObjectivesUtilizing INR to risk stratify head trauma patients who may be managed without repeat imaging.MethodsThis was a retrospective study at a Level II trauma center. All patients on warfarin with head injuries from March 2014 to December 31, 2017 were included. Each patient underwent an initial head computed tomography scan (HCT) and subsequent repeat HCT 12 h after. Patients presenting > 12 h after head injury received only one HCT. Two blinded neuroradiologists reviewed each case of DICH. Statistical analysis evaluated Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), age, and platelet count.ResultsThere were 395 patients who qualified for the protocol; 238 were female. Average age was 79 years. Seventy-seven percent of patients underwent repeat HCT. Five resulted in DICH (INR 2.6–3.0), three of which might have been present on initial HCT; incidence rate of 0.51–1.27%. One patient required neurosurgical intervention. Among 80 patients with INR < 2, no DICH was identified, resulting in high sensitivity, but with a wide confidence interval; sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] 47.8–100), specificity 21% (95% CI 16.6–28.9). Correlation of factors: ISS (p = 0.039), GCS (p = 0.978), HR (p = 0.601), SBP (p = 0.198), age (p = 0.014), and platelets (p = 0.281).ConclusionNo patient with INR < 2 suffered DICH, suggesting that warfarin users presenting with INR < 2 may be managed without repeat HCT. For INR > 2, patients age and injury severity can be used for shared decision-making to discharge home with standard head injury precautions and no repeat HCT.     

The Effect of Direct Oral Anti-Coagulants on Delayed Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

BackgroundThe use of anticoagulant medications leads to a higher risk of developing traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The management of anticoagulated patients can be difficult to determine when the initial head computed tomography is negative for tICH. There has been limited research on the risk of delayed tICH in patients taking direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) medications.ObjectiveOur aim was to determine the risk of delayed tICH for patients anticoagulated with DOACs after mTBI.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and searched several medical databases to examine the risk of delayed tICH in patients on DOACs.ResultsThere were 1252 nonduplicate studies that were identified through an initial database search, 15 of which met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in our analysis after full-text review. A total of 1375 subjects were combined among the 15 studies, with 20 instances of delayed tICH after mTBI. Nineteen of the 20 patients with a delayed tICH were discharged without any neurosurgical intervention, and 1 patient on apixaban died due to a delayed tICH.ConclusionsThis systematic review confirms that delayed tICH after mTBI in patients on DOACs is uncommon. However, large, multicenter, prospective studies are needed to confirm the true incidence of clinically significant delayed tICH after DOAC use. Due to the limited data, we recommend using shared decision-making for patients who are candidates for discharge.     

Intracranial Hemorrhage Associated with Tangential Gunshot Wounds to the Head

Abstract. Tangential gunshot wounds (TGSWs) to the head are gunshot wounds in which the bullet or bullet fragments do not penetrate the inner table of the skull. Objectives: To determine the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) associated with TGSW to the head and to assess the ability of selected clinical criteria to predict ICH in this patient population. Methods : A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed as having TGSWs to the head presenting to the ED of Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center from October 1, 1993, to May 31, 1996. Results : Four hundred twenty patients with gunshot wounds to the head presented to the ED. CT confirmed the diagnosis of TGSWs in 154 patients (36.7%). Head CT of patients with TGSWs revealed 25 (16.2%) skull fractures and 37 (24.0%) ICHs. Fourteen (56.0%) skull fractures were depressed. Of patients with a CT-doc-umented TGSW to the head, 23 (16.1%) had a history of a loss of consciousness (LOC), 129 (84.3%) had a normal neurologic examination in the ED, 17 (11.1%) had a Glasgow Coma Scale score (GCS) < 15, and 75 (48.7%) had retained extracranial bullets or bullet fragments. Of all patients with TGSWs to the head, 113 had a GCS of 15 with no LOC and a normal neurologic examination, with 17 of these 113 patients (15.0%) having ICH. One patient died while hospitalized. Fifty-six (36.6%) patients were released home directly from the ED. Five clinical criteria (history of LOC, GCS < 15 on ED presentation, skull fracture, location of TGSW on the skull, and presence of extra-cranial bullet fragments) were examined to determine their ability to predict ICH. None of these criteria either alone or in combination were adequately predictive of ICH. Conclusion : In this series, 1 in 4 patients with a TGSW to the head had an ICH. All patients with TGSWs to the head should undergo head CT to rule out depressed skull fractures and ICH.     

The Efficacy of Factor VIIa in Emergency Department Patients With Warfarin Use and Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Objectives: The objective was to compare outcomes in emergency department (ED) patients with preinjury warfarin use and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) who did and did not receive recombinant activated factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for international normalized ratio (INR) reversal. Methods: This was a retrospective before‐and‐after study conducted at a Level 1 trauma center, with data from 1999 to 2009. Eligible patients had preinjury warfarin use and tICH on cranial computed tomography (CT) scan. Patients before (standard cohort) and after (rFVIIa cohort) implementation of a protocol for administering 1.2 mg of rFVIIa in the ED were reviewed. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, Revised Trauma Score (RTS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), INR, and Marshall score were collected. Outcome measures included mortality, thromboembolic complications, and INR normalization. Results: Forty patients (median age = 80.5 years, interquartile range [IQR] = 63.5–85) were included (20 in each cohort). Age, GCS score, ISS, RTS, initial INR, and Marshall score were similar (p > 0.05) between the two cohorts. Survival was identical between cohorts (13 of 20, or 65.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 40.8% to 84.6%). There were no differences in rate of thromboembolic complications in the standard cohort (1 of 20, 5.0%, 95% CI = 0.1% to 24.9%) than the rFVIIa cohort (4 of 20, 20.0%, 95% CI = 5.7% to 43.7%; p = 0.34). Time to normal INR was earlier in the rFVIIa cohort (mean = 4.8 hours, 95% CI = 3.0 to 6.7 hours) than in the standard cohort (mean = 17.5 hours, 95% CI = 12.5 to 22.6; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In patients with preinjury warfarin and tICH, use of rFVIIa was associated with a decreased time to normal INR. However, no difference in mortality was identified. Use of rFVIIa in patients on warfarin and tICH requires further study to demonstrate important patient‐oriented outcomes. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:244–251 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine     

颅内动脉支架植入术后蛛网膜下腔出血的临床转归

目的:探讨颅内动脉支架植入术后蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)的发生原因和处理方法。方法:3例症状性大脑中动脉狭窄患者行支架植入术,术后即刻CT示SAH,立即停用抗凝、抗血小板集聚治疗,给予制动,控制血压和抗血管痉挛等治疗。结果:3例患者分别于术后11、7、10dCT示SAH吸收,恢复抗血小板集聚治疗,随访至今无异常。结论:颅内支架植入术后发生SAH机制复杂,及时有效处理后疗效满意。     

16排螺旋CT血管造影在自发性蛛网膜下腔出血诊断中的应用

[目的]探讨16排螺旋CT血管造影(MSCTA)在自发性蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)患者病因诊断中的应用价值.[方法]回顾性分析38例临床急性原发性SAH患者的临床资料,均分别进行MSCTA和数字减影血管造影(DSA),所有患者均完成VR、MIP、SSD处理,并对照手术或介入结果评估其诊断价值.[结果]MSCTA发现7例动静脉畸形,23例共24个动脉瘤,其中21例为单个动脉瘤,1例为两个动脉瘤,1例合并有动静脉畸形.动脉瘤直径最小2.0 mm,最大20 mm.MSCTA能清晰显示动脉瘤的瘤体大小、瘤颈、瘤轴指向、载瘤动脉及其动脉瘤与邻近血管分支和骨性组织间的空间关系.DSA检查发现25个动脉瘤,MSCTA的吻合率为96%.[结论]MSCTA诊断颅内动脉瘤有较高准确性,可以帮助原发性SAH患者查找病因,指导临床诊断与治疗.     

Sensitivity of New-generation Computed Tomography in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of the initial new-generation CT (NGCT) scan interpretation for detection of acute nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and to decide whether lumbar puncture (LP) should follow a "normal" NGCT scan.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients admitted between March 1988 and July 1994 with proven SAH. Exclusion criteria were age <2 years, diagnosis other than acute SAH, history of head trauma within 24 hours before symptom onset, NGCT scan not done before diagnosis, and records not available. Patients were placed into two groups: symptom duration <24 hours (group 1) and >24 hours (group 2) prior to CT scan. The resolution of each NGCT scanner was recorded. An NGCT sceinner was defined as a third-generation scanner or more recent.
Results: Of 349 SAH patients, 181 met inclusion criteria. The sensitivity of NGCT scans for SAH was 93.1% for the group 1 patients ( n = 144) and 83.8% for the group 2 patients ( n = 37). The overall sensitivity was 91.2%. All the patients who had SAH not detected by NGCT scans were diagnosed by LP. There was no significant relationship between NGCT scanner resolution and sensitivity for SAH.
Conclusion: Initial interpretation of NGCT scans to detect SAH does not approach 100% sensitivity. A "normal" NGCT scan does not reliably exclude the need for LP in patients who have symptoms suggestive of SAH.     

急性外伤性颅内血肿再次开颅手术原因分析

本文报道了外伤性颅内血肿64例再次开颅手术的病例，占同期外伤性颅内血肿开颅手术的5％。鉴于再次手术死亡率达20．76％，强调在脑挫裂伤手术过程中的正确处理及术后严密观察的重要性。分析了首次开颅术后血肿再形成的原因，探讨减少再次开颅手术死亡率的措施。     

颅脑外伤患者有创颅内压监测并发颅内感染的多因素分析

目的:分析应用有创颅内压监测的颅脑外伤手术患者,术后并发颅内感染的影响因素。方法:回顾性分析我院2013年6月至2014年6月收治的进行有创颅内压监测的颅脑外伤患者56例的临床资料,比较颅内感染患者(感染组)与无颅内感染患者(非感染组)的年龄、性别、入院时格拉斯哥昏迷(GCS)评分、切口类型、手术持续时间、手术次数、切口引流管留置时长、颅内压监测探头放置部位、颅内压监测探头留置时长、血糖及是否合并脑脊液漏,并利用单因素及Logistic回归分析法确定颅内感染的相关因素及独立危险因素。结果:切口类型(x2=4.058,P=0.044)、颅内压监测探头放置部位(x2=5.486,P=0.019)、脑脊液漏(x2=12.562,P0.001)、切口引流管留置时长(t=3.94,P0.001)、颅内压监测探头留置时长(t=2.73,P=0.01)以及手术持续时间(t=2.06,P=0.045)是患者出现颅内感染的危险因素,其中切口引流管留置时长(OR=0.347,P=0.009)、颅内压监测探头留置时长(OR=0.640,P=0.048)及脑脊液漏(OR=14.243,P=0.005)为颅内感染的独立危险因素。结论:颅脑外伤术后有创颅内压监测患者并发颅内感染与多种因素有关。切口引流管留置时间延长、颅内压监测探头留置时间延长以及合并脑脊液漏为术后出现颅内感染的独立危险因素。     

特急性外伤性颅内多发血肿的手术治疗

目的:总结颅脑损伤致特急性颅内多发血肿的手术治疗经验,提高此类患者的疗效。方法:回顾性分析96例颅脑损伤后特急性颅内多发血肿的临床资料。根据血肿的主要分布情况,对病例进行分类,根据不同类型的血种进行适当的治疗,个体化处理。着重探讨不同血肿类型的治疗原则、手术策略、术中处理等方面的问题。结果:96例全部手术治疗,术后随访3个月,其中恢复良好38例(39.6%),中残23例(23.9%),重残或昏迷状态13例(13.5%),死亡22例(22.9%)。结论:颅脑损伤特急性多发颅内血肿应采取个体化治疗措施,选择适当的手术时机和方法能提高治愈率改善预后。     

对幕上高血压脑出血患者进行颅内压监护的临床意义

目的:探讨对幕上高血压脑出血患者行持续动态颅内压(ICP)监护的临床价值。方法:32例幕上高血压脑出血患者随机分为ICP组17例和常规组15例,常规组根据经验进行常规神经外科治疗,ICP组根据ICP的变化随时调整治疗方案。结果:ICP组脱水剂应用时间、剂量及并发症的发生率均低于常规组(P<0.01),预后优于常规组(P<0.01)。结论:对于幕上高血压脑出血患者行持续ICP监护有利于指导和及时调整治疗措施,降低并发症,改善和预测预后。     

新生儿颅内出血的CT诊断评价

目的：探讨新生儿颅内出血的CT表现与分娩史及新生儿评分的关系。方法：回顾分析66例临床诊断新生儿颅内出血的CT表现,并与围产期病史、分娩史及新生儿评分相比较。结果：新生儿评分≤7分出现新生儿窒息时,颅内出血的发病率明显增高,出血量也多。结论：在新生儿评分≤7分出现新生儿窒息时,应尽早行CT检查,有助于早期诊断颅内出血,减少后遗症。     

外伤性急性颅内出血后血肿扩大的危险因素探讨

【目的】探讨外伤性急性颅内出血(TAICH)后血肿扩大的危险因素。【方法】CT动态观察93例 TAICH患者,分为血肿扩大组和非血肿扩大组,应用单因素和多因素分析方法对有关因素进行分析。 【结果】单因素分析显示,老年人、伤后至首次CT间隔1h内、高血压、长期饮酒、脑内不规则形出血、血肿量 ≥20ml与血肿扩大相关(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析表明,凝血功能障碍(OR=7.25,95%CI=3.812～ 14.173)和脑内点片状出血(OR=2.56,95%CI=1.095～5.994)与血肿扩大密切相关。【结论】老年人、伤后 至首次CT1h内、高血压、长期饮酒、脑内不规则形出血、血肿量≥20ml是血肿扩大的危险因素。凝血功能障 碍和脑内点片状出血是血肿扩大的主要危险因素。     

Cumulative Dose of Hypertension Predicts Outcome in Intracranial Hemorrhage Better Than American Heart Association Guidelines

Background Hypertension is common after intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and may be associated with higher mortality and adverse neurologic outcome. The American Heart Association recommends that blood pressure be maintained at a mean arterial pressure (MAP) less than 130 mm Hg to prevent secondary brain injury. Objectives To prospectively evaluate whether a new method of assessing hypertension in ICH more accurately identifies patients at risk for adverse outcomes. Methods The authors prospectively studied all patients presenting to two University of California, San Francisco hospitals with acute ICH from June 1, 2001, to May 31, 2004. Factors related to acute hospitalization were recorded in a database, including all charted vital signs for the first 15 days. Patients were followed up for one year, with their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 12 months as primary outcome. Hypertension dose was determined as the area under the curve between patient MAP and a cut point of 110 mm Hg while in the emergency department (ED). The dose was adjusted for time spent in the ED (dose/time_ed [d/t_ed]). Hypertension dose was divided into four categories (none, and progressive tertiles). Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio for adverse mRS by tertiles of d/t_ed. Results A total of 237 subjects with an ED average (±SD) length of stay of 3.42 (±3.7) hours were enrolled. In a multivariate logistic regression model controlling for the effects of age, volume of hemorrhage, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, race, and preexisting hypertension, there was a 4.7‐ and 6.1‐fold greater likelihood of an adverse neurologic outcome (by mRS) at one and 12 months, respectively, in the highest d/t_ed tertile relative to the referent group without hypertension. Conclusions Hypertension after acute ICH is associated with adverse neurologic outcome. The dose of hypertension may more accurately identify patients at risk for adverse outcomes than the American Heart Association guidelines and may lead to better outcomes if treated when identified in this manner.     

Implementation of a guideline for computed tomography head imaging in head injury: A prospective study

Objective: To improve appropriate ordering of head computed tomography (CT) in patients presenting with a head injury by applying an evidence‐based head injury guideline. Methods: This was a comparison observational study of CT head ordering in the setting of head trauma between two groups of patients. There was a pre‐guideline implementation group and a post‐guideline implementation group. Our Southernhealth Head Injury Guideline was largely based on the Canadian CT Head Rule by Steill et al. 2001.We also applied the Canadian CT Head Rule to our post‐guideline implementation group. Results: CT ordering rate in the pre‐guideline group was 31.6% compared with 59% in the post‐guideline group with a relative risk of 1.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.56–2.27). Abnormal head CT were reported in 6.8% in the pre‐guideline group and 5% in the post‐guideline group (relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.44–1.51). When we applied the Canadian CT Head Rule to the prospective group, four patients with clinically significant abnormal head CT would not have been scanned. The sensitivity of the guideline was 100% (95% CI 79–100%), with a specificity of 43.22% (95% CI 37–48%) in diagnosing a significant head injury on CT. Conclusion: The Southernhealth Head Injury Guideline is safe and easy to apply to minor and major head injuries.     

脑静脉系统血栓形成合并颅内出血的抗凝治疗16例

目的:探讨脑静脉系统血栓形成(CVT)合并颅内出血后应用抗凝药物的疗效及风险。方法:连续收集CVT合并颅内出血的住院患者16例,确诊后给予低分子肝素抗凝治疗,通过每周1次头颅CT观察血肿体积动态变化,动态MRV观察血栓再通情况,并记录出血并发症的发生。结果:抗凝治疗前基线血肿体积为(13.9±3.7)mL,应用低分子肝素抗凝治疗1周后复查头颅CT测血肿体积为(10.1±2.7)mL,均无血肿扩大,8例明显吸收,2周复查头颅CT血肿体积(5.2±3.3)mL,血肿均吸收≥75%。无严重出血性并发症,14 d MRV复查15例血管再通。结论:抗凝治疗是CVT合并颅内出血的安全有效方法,尽早抗凝治疗可有效缓解症状,改善患者预后。     

白血病患者颅内出血的影像学表现

目的探讨自血病患者颅内出血的影像学表现。方法分析23例自血病患者颅内出血的MRI及CT表现。结果23例自血病患者颅内出血的MRI及CT表现有一定的影像学特征。结论MRI及CT检查对颅内出血患者的进一步定性，提供一定的临床参考价值。     

Prevalence of Herniation and Intracranial Shift on Cranial Tomography in Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and a Normal Neurologic Examination

Objectives: Patients frequently present to the emergency department (ED) with headache. Those with sudden severe headache are often evaluated for spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with noncontrast cranial computed tomography (CT) followed by lumbar puncture (LP). The authors postulated that in patients without neurologic symptoms or signs, physicians could forgo noncontrast cranial CT and proceed directly to LP. The authors sought to define the safety of this option by having senior neuroradiologists rereview all cranial CTs in a group of such patients for evidence of brain herniation or midline shift. Methods: This was a retrospective study that included all patients with a normal neurologic examination and nontraumatic SAH diagnosed by CT presenting to a tertiary care medical center from August 1, 2001, to December 31, 2004. Two neuroradiologists, blinded to clinical information and outcomes, rereviewed the initial ED head CT for evidence of herniation or midline shift. Results: Of the 172 patients who presented to the ED with spontaneous SAH diagnoses by cranial CT, 78 had normal neurologic examinations. Of these, 73 had initial ED CTs available for review. Four of the 73 (5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2% to 13%) had evidence of brain herniation or midline shift, including three (4%; 95% CI = 1% to 12%) with herniation. In only one of these patients was herniation or shift noted on the initial radiology report. Conclusions: Awake and alert patients with a normal neurologic examination and SAH may have brain herniation and/or midline shift. Therefore, cranial CT should be obtained before LP in all patients with suspected SAH. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:423–428 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine     

小儿自发性脑出血78例临床分析

目的：探讨小儿自发性脑出血的临床特点、病因、诊断和治疗方法。方法：对78例自发性脑出血患儿的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果：晚发性VitK缺乏症是小儿自发性脑出血首位病因（72％）,脑血管畸形次之（18％）。结论：小儿自发性脑出血在临床表现、诊治方法上均与成人有显著区别。提高对小儿自发性脑出血临床特点的认识,将有助于对本病及时有效的救治。