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Evaluation of the yield of 24-h close observation in patients with mild traumatic brain injury on anticoagulation therapy: a retrospective multicenter study and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background/aims

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on anticoagulants have an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). However, consensus is lacking on whether to admit them after normal initial cranial CT. We evaluated the yield of 24-h neurological observation.

Methods

Retrospective multicenter study including adult patients admitted over a 5-year period with mTBI on anticoagulation [therapeutic dose heparin, direct oral anticoagulant, or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) with international normalized ratio (INR) ≥ 1.7] and reportedly normal cranial CT obtained within 24 h after trauma. Primary endpoint was symptomatic ICH within 24 h of injury. Literature on delayed ICH in patients with mTBI and anticoagulation use was reviewed.

Results

Of 17.643 mTBI patients, 905 met the inclusion criteria (median age 82 years). 97% used VKA (median INR 2.9). None developed delayed ICH within 24 h. Nine patients deteriorated neurologically due to ICH, four within 24 h (0.4%, 95% CI 0.1–1.2) and five on day 2, 18, 22, 36 and 52, respectively. In six patients, including all four that developed symptoms within 24 h, ICH was found upon reevaluation of initial imaging. The meta-analysis comprised of 9 studies with data from 2885 patients. The estimated pooled proportion of symptomatic delayed ICH or delayed diagnosis of ICH within 24 h was 0.2% (95% CI 0.0–0.5).

Conclusions

Delayed (diagnosis of) ICH within 24 h is very rare in mTBI patients on anticoagulants after reportedly normal initial CT. Routine hospitalization of these patients seems unwarranted when the initial cranial CT is scrupulously evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to Prof. Dr. Rob J. de Haan, department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for his advice and help with the analysis of the data obtained by the review of literature. We thank Marjan S. M. Bakker, Noordwest Academie, Alkmaar, The Netherlands, for her help with the systematic review of medical literature and identification of studies meeting the criteria for inclusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Haga Ziekenhuis, Els-Borst-Eilersplein 275, 2545 AA, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Merelijne A. Verschoof

  2. Department of Neurology, Spaarne Gasthuis, Haarlem, The Netherlands

    Charlotte C. M. Zuurbier & Frank de Beer

  3. Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jonathan M. Coutinho

  4. Department of Radiology, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

    Evert A. Eggink

  5. Department of Neurology, Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

    Björn M. van Geel

Authors
  1. Merelijne A. Verschoof
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  2. Charlotte C. M. Zuurbier
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  3. Frank de Beer
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  4. Jonathan M. Coutinho
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  5. Evert A. Eggink
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  6. Björn M. van Geel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merelijne A. Verschoof.

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Integrity of research and reporting

The study was approved by the ethical review boards of the Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep Alkmaar and the Spaarne Gasthuis Haarlem.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Verschoof, M.A., Zuurbier, C.C.M., de Beer, F. et al. Evaluation of the yield of 24-h close observation in patients with mild traumatic brain injury on anticoagulation therapy: a retrospective multicenter study and meta-analysis. J Neurol 265, 315–321 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8701-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-017-8701-y

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