Thromboelastogram-Guided Resuscitation for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury on Novel Anticoagulants

Traumatic brain injuries in patients on antithrombotic agents carry significant morbidity. Initial therapy is centered around reversal of these agents. The thromboelastogram (TEG) maps the clotting cascade to guide reversal. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 118 patients presenting with a traumatic brain injury while on antithrombotics. Patients were divided between those who received a TEG on arrival and those who did not. The primary endpoint was overall mortality. Secondary endpoints included blood product utilization, and outcomes associated with specific novel anticoagulants. Mortality in the control group was 20.3 per cent compared with 18.5 per cent in the TEG group (P = 0.81). For less severe injuries, the control group mortality was 3.8 per cent and the TEG group mortality was 8.7 per cent (P = 0.64). For more severe injuries, mortality in the control versus TEG groups were 31.6 per cent and 25.8 per cent, respectively (P = 0.73). Blood product utilization was significantly lower in the TEG group (P = 0.002). Overall mortality was not significantly different between the groups. However, when stratified by severity of injury, mortality was reduced in the TEG-guided group in severely injured patients. Blood product utilization was significantly reduced with TEG-guided reversal. Trauma centers can improve the utilization of blood products in reversal of antithrombotics with the use of TEG.