Citation

Peiniger S, Nienaber U, Braun M, Wafaisade A, Borgman MA, Spinella PC, Maegele M. Pediatr. Crit. Care Med. 2012; 13(4): 455-460.

Affiliation

From the Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery (SP, MB, AW, MM), Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (SP, UN, MB, AW, MM), University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Centre, Cologne, Germany; Brooke Army Medical Center (MAB), Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX; Department of Pediatrics (PCS), Washington University in St Louis, St. Louis, MO; and U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (PCS), Ft. Sam Houston, TX.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PCC.0b013e31823893c5

PMID

22422166

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: Coagulopathy is a complication of traumatic brain injury and its presence after injury has been identified as a risk factor for prognosis. It was our aim to determine whether neurologic findings reflected by Glasgow Coma Scale at initial resuscitation can predict hemocoagulative disorders resulting from traumatic brain injury that may aggravate clinical sequelae and outcome in children. DESIGN:: A retrospective analysis of 200 datasets from children with blunt, isolated traumatic brain injury documented in the Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Unfallchirurgie was conducted. Inclusion criteria were primary admission, age <14 yrs, and sustained isolated blunt traumatic brain injury. SETTING:: Trauma Registry of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Unfallchirurgie-affiliated trauma centers in Germany. PATIENTS:: Two hundred datasets of children (age <14 yrs) with blunt isolated traumatic brain injury were analyzed: children were subdivided into two groups according to Glasgow Coma Scale at the scene (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 vs. Glasgow Coma Scale >8) and reviewed for coagulation abnormalities upon emergency room admission and outcome. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS:: Fifty-one percent (n = 102 of 200) of children had Glasgow Coma Scale >8 and 49% (n = 98 of 200) had Glasgow Coma Scale .8 at the scene. The incidence of coagulopathy at admission was higher in children with Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 compared to children with Glasgow Coma Scale >8: 44% (n = 31 of 71) vs. 14% (n = 11 of 79) (p < .001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 at scene was associated with coagulopathy at admission (odds ratio 3.378, p = .009) and stepwise regression identified Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 as an independent risk factor for coagulopathy. Mortality in children with Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 at scene was substantially higher with the presence of coagulation abnormalities at admission compared to children in which coagulopathy was absent (51.6%, n = 16 of 31 vs. 5% n = 2 of 40). CONCLUSIONS:: Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 at scene in children with isolated traumatic brain injury is associated with increased risk for coagulopathy and mortality. These results may guide laboratory testing, management, and blood bank resources in acute pediatric trauma care.

Language: en