Leukocytosis after routine cranial surgery: A potential marker for brain damage in intracranial surgery

Coagulopathy in the absence of overt DIC in postoperative neurosurgical patients is a strong predictor of poor outcome

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of coagulopathy in postoperative neurosurgical patients and correlate it with the outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This longitudinal study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in the Department of Pathology and Neurosurgery. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Ethical Committee - Human Research. Seventy-two (72) participants were recruited within 48 hours of surgery after obtaining consent. Complete clinical and surgical details were recorded. A 6.5 mL venous sample was collected and dispensed in two separate vials. The EDTA sample was run within 2 hours of collection on an automated hematology analyzer to obtain complete blood counts, including platelet count. The citrated sample was run on a fully automated coagulometer to determine PT, APTT, plasma fibrinogen, FVIII assay, and D-dimer levels. Subjects with a DIC-ISTH score of 5 or more were excluded. Coagulopathy was defined as three or more coagulation parameters deranged in a patient. All patients were followed up for the outcome. The outcome was correlated with coagulopathy, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The study found that the number of hemostatic parameters deranged correlated with outcome (P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with coagulopathy was 32/72 (44.4%), while those without coagulopathy were 40/72 (55.6%). Of patients with coagulopathy, 87.5% (28/32) had an adverse outcome, while 12.5% (4/32) had a favorable outcome. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Coagulopathy, defined as the derangement of three or more parameters, is a predictor of poor outcomes in postoperative neurosurgical patients. This timely recognition of coagulopathy can help triage patients requiring appropriate blood products, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality associated with postoperative neurosurgical patients.

Prognostic value of leukocytosis in pediatric traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to assess leukocytosis and its prognostic value in pediatric isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

Two hundred one children with isolated TBI admitted to the authors' institution between June 2006 and June 2018 were prospectively followed and their data retrospectively analyzed. Initial blood leukocyte count (i.e., white cell count [WCC]), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, CT scans, duration of hospital stay, and Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale (PCPCS) scores were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 4.2 years (range 0.2-16 years). Seventy-four, 70, and 57 patients had severe (GCS score 3-8), moderate (GCS score 9-13), and mild (GCS score 14-15) TBI, respectively, with associated WCC of 20, 15.9, and 10.7 × 109/L and neutrophil counts of 15.6, 11.3, and 6.1 × 109/L, respectively (p < 0.01). Higher WCC and neutrophil counts were demonstrated in patients with increased intracranial mass effect on CT, longer hospital stay, and worse 6-month PCPCS score (p < 0.05). Multivariate regression revealed a cutoff leukocyte count of 16.1 × 109/L, neutrophil count of 11.9 × 109/L, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of 5.2, above which length of hospital stay and PCPCS scores were less favorable. Furthermore, NLR was the second most important independent risk factor for a poor outcome (after GCS score). The IMPACT (International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI) adult TBI prediction model applied to this pediatric cohort demonstrated increased accuracy when WCC was incorporated as a risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

In the largest and first prospective study of isolated pediatric head injury to date, the authors have demonstrated that WCC > 16.1 × 109/L, neutrophil count > 11.9 × 109/L and NLR > 5.2 each have predictive value for lengthy hospital stay and poor PCPCS scores, and NLR is an independent risk factor for poor outcome. Incorporating the initial leukocyte count into TBI prediction models may improve prognostication.

Leukocytosis is common after orthognathic surgery: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

In the absence of infection-specific clinical signs and symptoms, it is often difficult for the maxillofacial surgeon to decide whether leukocytosis after orthognathic surgery is part of the normal postoperative response, as suggested for a variety of non-maxillofacial surgeries, or a sign of a developing infection. The aim was to determine the trends and factors predictive of postoperative WBC (white blood cell) values after orthognathic surgery that may provide the surgeon appropriate guidance for decision making.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included a total of 83 consecutive patients who underwent 93 orthognathic surgical cases over six years. The natural history of postoperative WBC values and incidence of leukocytosis were characterized, and their differences across potential predictor variables were then analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

On post-operative day (POD) 1, the mean post-operative WBC count reached the peak level, with an increase of 11.4 × 10⁶ cells/μL. By POD 2, it declined slightly to a level approximately two times more than the preoperative level. Over the first two post-operative days, the incidence of leukocytosis was 93.5%. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that gender, duration of surgery and pre-operative WBC count were the only significant predictors of the post-operative WBC value, whereas the pre-operative WBC count was the only significant (OR: 2.61, P < 0.05) predictor of post-operative leukocytosis.

CONCLUSION

Post-operative leukocytosis after orthognathic surgery is significantly influenced by the pre-operative WBC count, and has similar trends with a much higher incidence, compared to non-maxillofacial surgeries.