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BACKGROUND: The incidence and risk factors for traumatic brain injury (TBI)-associated coagulopathy after severe TBI (sTBI) and the effect of this complication on outcomes have not been evaluated in any large prospective studies. METHODS: Prospective study of all patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of an urban, Level I trauma center from June 2005 through May 2007 with sTBI (head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of >or=3). Criteria for TBI-coagulopathy included a clinical condition consistent with coagulopathy, i.e. sTBI, in conjunction with a platelet count or=16, presence of cerebral edema, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and midline shift. ICU lengths of stay were significantly longer in SHI patients who developed TBI coagulopathy (12.7 vs. 8.8 days; p = 0.006). The development of TBI coagulopathy in SHI was associated with increased mortality, adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 9.61 (4.06-25.0); p or=16, hypotension upon admission, cerebral edema, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and midline shift. The development of TBI coagulopathy is associated with longer ICU length of stay and an almost 10-fold increased risk of death.
Talving et al. (Thu,) studied this question.