{
  "abstract": "Objectives Patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) often undergo early stability CT scans to evaluate for progression of bleeding. The factors associated with progression after initiating venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis (CP) remain poorly described. This study aimed to determine the rate of and factors associated with ICH progression following CP initiation.Methods This retrospective observational study included adult (≥16 years) polytrauma patients with blunt or penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted between September 2016 and December 2021. Progression was defined as a radiographic increase in ICH following VTE CP initiation, determined by neurosurgery or radiology faculty. Postprophylaxis CT scans were obtained based on clinical deterioration. Associated factors, neurosurgical intervention rates, and outcomes were evaluated.Results Among 1390 included patients, ICH progression occurred in 3% (43) following CP initiation. Patients with progression were older (55 vs 45 years) and had higher injury severity scores (33 vs 27; p<0.05). Rates of pneumonia (49% vs 21%) and sepsis (19% vs 9%) were higher in the progression group (p<0.05). There was no difference between groups in time to prophylaxis initiation (40 vs 38 hours), survival (88% vs 92%), or VTE incidence (0% vs 4%; all p=NS). Factors associated with progression included midline shift (21% vs 6%), subdural hematoma (47% vs 26%), and prior progression on 6-hour stability CT (64% vs 34%; p<0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings. Among progression patients, 9% required intervention after CP, with only two requiring craniotomy.Conclusions ICH progression is rare (3%) after VTE CP initiation. Associated factors align with spontaneous progression, suggesting that ICH progression is independent of early VTE prophylaxis (<48 hours). These findings support the safety of early VTE CP as the standard of care for mitigating VTE risk in TBI patients with TBI.Level of evidence Level III, retrospective study with up to two negative criteria.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Keith Walter Burczak"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jan-Michael Van Gent"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "General Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Devi Bavishi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Joel James"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Thomas W Clements"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "General Surgery, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Thaddeus J Puzio"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Surgery, University of Texas John P and Katherine G McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Bryan A Cotton"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Risk factors for progression of intracranial hemorrhage after initiation of VTE chemoprophylaxis: an evaluation of 1390 TBI patients",
  "uid": "5a5be698-83df-59a4-a138-7b4fd4848069"
}