Intracranial pressure monitors associated with increased venous thromboembolism in severe traumatic brain injury

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in operative traumatic brain injury

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant complication in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the optimal timing of pharmacological prophylaxis in operative cases remains controversial.

Methods

This retrospective study aimed to describe the timing of pharmacological prophylaxis initiation in operative TBI cases, stratified by surgery type, and to report the frequency of worsening postoperative intracranial pathology.

Results

Data from 90 surgical TBI patients were analyzed, revealing that 87.8% received VTE pharmacological prophylaxis at a mean of 85 hours postsurgery. The timing of initiation varied by procedure, with burr holes having the earliest start at a mean of 66 h. Craniotomy and decompressive craniectomy had the longest delay, with means of 116 and 109 h, respectively. Worsening intracranial pathology occurred in 5.6% of patients, with only one case occurring after VTE pharmacological prophylaxis initiation. The overall VTE rate was 3.3%.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that initiating VTE pharmacological prophylaxis between 3 and 5 days postsurgery may be safe in operative TBI patients, with the timing dependent on the procedure's invasiveness. The low frequencies of worsening intracranial pathology and VTE support the safety of these proposed timeframes. However, the study's limitations, including its single-center retrospective nature and lack of a standardized protocol, necessitate further research to confirm these findings and establish evidence-based guidelines for VTE pharmacological prophylaxis in operative TBI patients.

Early venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis in traumatic brain injury requiring neurosurgical intervention: Safe and effective

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury patients who require neurosurgical intervention are at the highest risk of worsening intracranial hemorrhage. This subgroup of patients has frequently been excluded from prior research regarding the timing of venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of early venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis in patients with traumatic brain injuries requiring neurosurgical interventions.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective review (2016-2020) of traumatic brain injury patients requiring neurosurgical intervention admitted to a level I trauma center. Interventions included intracranial pressure monitoring, subdural drain, external ventricular drain, craniotomy, and craniectomy. Exclusion criteria included neurosurgical intervention after chemoprophylaxis initiation, death within 5 days of admission, and absence of chemoprophylaxis. The total population was stratified into Early (≤72 hours of intervention) versus Late (>72 hours after intervention) chemoprophylaxis initiation.

RESULTS

A total of 351 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 204 (58%) had early chemoprophylaxis initiation. Overall, there were no significant differences in baseline and admission characteristics between cohorts. The Early chemoprophylaxis cohort had a statistically significant lower venous thromboembolism rate (5% vs 13%, P < .001) with no increased risk of worsening intracranial hemorrhage (10% vs 13%, P = .44) or neurosurgical reintervention (8% vs 10%, P = .7). On subgroup analysis, a total of 169 patients required either a craniotomy or a craniectomy before chemoprophylaxis. The Early chemoprophylaxis cohort had statistically significant lower venous thromboembolism rates (2% vs 11%, P < .001) with no increase in intracranial hemorrhage (8% vs 11%, P = .6) or repeat neurosurgical intervention (8% vs 10%, P = .77).

CONCLUSION

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis initiation within 72 hours of neurosurgical intervention is safe and effective. Further prospective research is warranted to validate the results of this study.

Venous Thromboembolism: Exploring Incidence and Utility of Screening in Individuals With Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of VTE in the population with brain injuries (BIs) using ultrasonography, and to assess the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) development and/or bleeding complications related to anticoagulation.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Acute rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

238 individuals with moderate to severe BI who were routinely screened for VTE with ultrasonography on admission to rehabilitation (N=238).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Retrospective chart review was performed to identify individuals who were diagnosed with VTE at the following 3 time points: in acute care prior to admission to rehabilitation, at the time of admission diagnosed via screening examination, and after admission to rehabilitation. Additionally, risk factors for VTE, PE, and incidence of bleeding complications related to therapeutic anticoagulation were assessed.

RESULTS

123 deep vein thromboses (DVTs) were identified with 38.2% in acute care (n=47), 69.1% on admission to rehabilitation (n=85), and 7.3% during the course of rehabilitation stay (n=9). Risk factors for development of VTE included age at injury, body mass index, injury etiology, history of neurosurgical procedure, and surgery during inpatient rehabilitation. Of those who were placed on therapeutic anticoagulation due to admission diagnosis of VTE (n=50), 2% developed recurrent DVT and 2% had bleeding complications. There was zero incidence of PE.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a high prevalence of VTEs identified on screening ultrasonography on admission to inpatient rehabilitation among individuals with moderate to severe BIs, and low complications related to anticoagulation. Given the findings of this study, prospective research in ultrasonography screening for VTE in moderate to severe BI is needed.

Initial neurocritical care of severe traumatic brain injury: New paradigms and old challenges

Background:

Early neurocritical care aims to ameliorate secondary traumatic brain injury (TBI) and improve neural salvage. Increased engagement of neurosurgeons in neurocritical care is warranted as daily briefings between the intensivist and the neurosurgeon are considered a quality indicator for TBI care. Hence, neurosurgeons should be aware of the latest evidence in the neurocritical care of severe TBI (sTBI).

Methods:

We conducted a narrative literature review of bibliographic databases (PubMed and Scopus) to examine recent research of sTBI.

Results:

This review has several take-away messages. The concept of critical neuroworsening and its possible causes is discussed. Static thresholds of intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure may not be optimal for all patients. The use of dynamic cerebrovascular reactivity indices such as the pressure reactivity index can facilitate individualized treatment decisions. The use of ICP monitoring to tailor treatment of intracranial hypertension (IHT) is not routinely feasible. Different guidelines have been formulated for different scenarios. Accordingly, we propose an integrated algorithm for ICP management in sTBI patients in different resource settings. Although hyperosmolar therapy and decompressive craniectomy are standard treatments for IHT, there is a lack high-quality evidence on how to use them. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of invasive ICP monitoring is included in the study. Addition of beta-blocker, anti-seizure, and anticoagulant medications to standardized management protocols (SMPs) should be considered with careful patient selection.

Conclusion:

Despite consolidated research efforts in the refinement of SMPs, there are still many unanswered questions and novel research opportunities for sTBI care.

Application Effect of the Standard Operating Procedure in the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the application effect of the standard operating procedure (SOP) in the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

METHODS

The clinical data of patients admitted to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and geriatric departments in the hospital (November 2020-May 2021) were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients in line with the inclusion criteria were equally randomized into the observation group (OG) and the control group (CG). The CG was treated with the routine nursing, and the OG received the SOP of VTE prevention additionally. After the record of the incidence of VTE and nursing satisfaction of the two groups, scores of VTE awareness were compared.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty patients were included in this study, and no obvious difference was found in the general data of patients (P > 0.05). Compared with the CG, the incidence of VTE of the OG was obviously lower (P < 0.05). After nursing, compared with the CG, scores of VTE awareness in the OG were conspicuously higher (P < 0.001), and scores of VTE awareness of the nursing staff were conspicuously higher than those before nursing (P < 0.001). Compared with the CG, nursing satisfaction of the OG was obviously higher (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

SOP can reduce the incidence of VTE of patients, improve their disease awareness, and enhance their nursing satisfaction, which should be popularized in practice.

Early positive fluid balance is predictive for venous thromboembolism in critically ill surgical patients

BACKGROUND

Positive fluid balance (FB) in the intensive care unit (ICU) may be a marker for increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. We hypothesized that an early positive fluid balance (FB) would be associated with increased VTE occurrence.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective review of surgical ICU patients was conducted from May 2011 to December 2014. Patients with a VTE were compared to those who did not develop a VTE (NVTE).

RESULTS

There were 619 patients analyzed with 77 (12.4%) diagnosed with a VTE; these patients had longer ventilator days (12.3 vs. 5.0 days, p < 0.01) and ICU stays (10.3 vs. 6.4 days, p < 0.01), and were more likely to have a net FB ≥ 4L over the first three days (62% vs. 44%, p < 0.01). A FB ≥ 4L over the first three ICU days was an independent predictor of VTE (AOR 1.74, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Patients with an early positive FB are more likely to develop a VTE.