Ruiz RAF, Canas M, Diaz L, Aldana JA, Afzal H, Falcon ADF, Del Toro D, Day A, McCarthy J, Stansfield K, Bochicchio GV, Niziolek G, Kranker LM, Rosengart MR, Hoofnagle M, Leonard J. Prolonged Hourly Neurologic Examinations are Associated with Increased Delirium and No Discernible Benefit in Mild/Moderate Geriatric Traumatic Brain Injury.
J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2024:01586154-990000000-00665. [PMID:
38509046 DOI:
10.1097/ta.0000000000004296]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
Serial neurologic examinations (NE) are routinely recommended in the ICU within the first 24 hours following a TBI. There are currently no widely accepted guidelines for the frequency of NE. Disruptions to the sleep-wake cycles increase the delirium rate. We aimed to evaluate whether there is a correlation between prolonged Q1-NE and development of delirium and to determine if this practice reduces the likelihood of missing the detection of a process requiring emergent intervention.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients with mild/moderate TBI, admitted to the ICU with serial-NE. Cohorts were stratified by the duration of exposure to Q1-NE, into Prolonged(≥24 h) and Not Prolonged(<24 h). Our primary outcomes of interest was delirium, evaluated using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-ICU), radiological progression from baseline images, neurological deterioration (focal neurological deficit, abnormal pupillary exam, or GCS decrease >2), and neurosurgical procedures.
RESULTS
A total of 522 patients were included. No significant differences were found in demographics. Patients in the Prolonged Q1-NE group (26.1%) had higher ISS with similar AIS Head, and significantly higher delirium rate [59% vs 35%, p < .001], and a longer Hospital/ICU length of stay when compared to the Not Prolonged Q1-NE group. No neurosurgical interventions were found to be performed emergently as a result of findings on NE. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Prolonged Q1-NE was the only independent risk factor associated with a 2.5-fold increase in delirium rate. The Number Needed to Harm for prolonged Q1-NE was 4.
CONCLUSIONS
Geriatric patients with mild/moderate TBI exposed to Q1-NE for periods longer than 24 h had nearly a 3-fold increase in ICU-Delirium rate. One out of five patients exposed to prolonged Q1-NE is harmed by the development of delirium. No patients were found to directly benefit as a result of more frequent neurological examinations.
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