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Dynamic Changes of Hemostasis in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Undergoing Craniotomy: Association with in-Hospital Mortality

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Abstract

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces complex systemic hemostatic alterations associated with secondary brain damage and death. We specifically investigated perioperative changes of hemostasis in patients with isolated TBI undergoing major neurosurgery and searched for their influence on outcome.

Methods

Serial analysis (four time points, T0–T3) of conventional coagulation assay and rotational thromboelastometry data acquired during 72 h from admission of 68 patients who underwent craniotomy to remove hematoma and/or to decompress the brain was performed. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the prevalence of hypocoagulation and increased clotting activity, coagulation parameters between survivors and nonsurvivors, and cutoff values of coagulation parameters predictive of mortality.

Results

Overall mortality was 22%. The prevalence of hypocoagulation according to rotational thromboelastometry decreased from 35.8% (T0) to 15.9% (T3). Lower fibrinogen levels, hyperfibrinolysis and fibrinolysis shutdown in the early period (T0–T1) following TBI were associated with higher mortality. Optimal cutoff values were identified: fibrin polymerization thromboelastometry (FIBTEM) clot amplitude at 10 min after clotting time ≤ 13 mm at T0 and FIBTEM clot amplitude at 10 min after clotting time ≤ 16.5 mm at T1 increased the odds of death by 6.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54–23.13, p = 0.010) and 9.7 (95% CI 2.06–45.36, p = 0.004), respectively. FIBTEM maximum clot firmness ≤ 14.5 mm at T0 and FIBTEM maximum clot firmness ≤ 18.5 mm at T1 increased the odds of death by 6.3 (95% CI 1.56–25.69, p = 0.010) and 9.1 (95% CI 1.88–44.39, p = 0.006). Fibrinogen < 3 g/L on postoperative day 1 (T1) was associated with a 9.5-fold increase of in-hospital mortality (95% CI 1.72–52.98, p = 0.01). Increased clotting activity was not associated with mortality.

Conclusions

Rotational thromboelastometry adds important information for identifying patients with TBI at increased risk of death. Early fibrinogen-related coagulation disorders are associated with mortality of patients with TBI undergoing major neurosurgical procedures. Maintenance of higher fibrinogen levels might be necessary for neurosurgical patients with acute TBI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus Str. 9, 44307, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Marius Rimaitis, Vaiva Cechanovičiūtė, Diana Bilskienė, Neringa Balčiūnienė, Rimantas Vilcinis, Kęstutis Rimaitis & Andrius Macas

  2. Clinic of Anesthesiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Marius Rimaitis, Diana Bilskienė, Kęstutis Rimaitis & Andrius Macas

  3. Clinic of Neurosurgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Neringa Balčiūnienė & Rimantas Vilcinis

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  1. Marius Rimaitis
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  2. Vaiva Cechanovičiūtė
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Contributions

MR participated in study organization, data collection, statistical analysis, and article preparation. VC participated in statistical analysis and article preparation. DB participated in study organization, data collection and performed critical review of the article. NB participated in data collection, consulted regarding neurointensive care issues, and performed critical review of the article. RV participated in data collection, consulted regarding neurosurgical issues, and performed critical review of the article. KR consulted regarding data analysis and article preparation, and performed critical review of the article. AM participated in study organization, critical data analysis and article preparation. The final manuscript was approved by all authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marius Rimaitis.

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Ethical Approval/Informed Consent

The authors confirm adherence to ethical guidelines. Ethical approval was provided by the Regional Ethics Committee of Biomedical Research (number: BE-2–17). Written consent was obtained from all participants or their responsible parties before any analysis of the available data.

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Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03616808.

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Rimaitis, M., Cechanovičiūtė, V., Bilskienė, D. et al. Dynamic Changes of Hemostasis in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Undergoing Craniotomy: Association with in-Hospital Mortality. Neurocrit Care 38, 714–725 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01639-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01639-4

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