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Published on: April 11, 2025
The impact of delayed time to first CT head in traumatic brain injury
Morgan Schellenberg1, Elizabeth Benjamin2, Natthida Owattanapanich2
1Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. LAC + USC Medical Center, University of Southern California, 2051 Marengo Street, Inpatient Tower, C5L100, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. morgan.schellenberg@med.usc.edu.
Purpose:
Trauma team activation (TTA) criteria trigger early mobilization of resources for the sickest trauma patients. Patients with moderately depressed GCS who do not trigger the highest level activation are at risk for adverse outcomes, potentially from delayed time to intervention. The study objective was to define the impact of time to first CT Head (CTH) on outcomes among blunt trauma patients with moderately depressed GCS.
Methods:
Patients from the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) databank (2013-2016) with first ED GCS 9-12 were included. Transfers, penetrating mechanisms, death < 24 h, AIS = 6 in any body region, and patients with severe associated injuries were excluded. Study groups were defined by time to first CTH after ED arrival: immediate (≤ 1 h) vs. delayed (1-6 h). Primary outcomes were time to neurosurgical intervention and time to ED discharge.
Results:
After exclusions, 4997 patients were identified. Of these, 79% (n = 3,954) underwent immediate CTH and 21% (n = 1,043) had delayed CTH. Median GCS was 11 [10-12] in both groups and there was no difference in median Head AIS (4 [3-4] vs. 4 [3-4], p = 0.586). Time to craniotomy and ICP monitor insertion were longer in the delayed group (4.2 h [3.0-7.6] vs. 3.1 h [2.1-8.7], p = 0.001; and 5.7 h [3.8-13.0] vs. 4.4 h [2.6-12.0], p = 0.008), as was time in the ED (4.3 h [2.7-6.5] vs. 2.1 h [1.2-3.7], p < 0.001). There was no difference in need for craniotomy (11% vs. 10%, p = 0.287), need for ICP monitor (12% vs. 12%, p = 0.899), or mortality (11% vs. 9%, p = 0.160). On multivariate analysis, age > 65 (OR 2.813, p < 0.001), SBP < 90 mmHg (OR 2.934, p < 0.001), ED intubation (OR 1.486, p = 0.001), and Head AIS scores of 4 (OR 1.884, p < 0.001) and 5 (OR 6.729, p < 0.001) were independently associated with death.
Conclusions:
Immediate CTH for blunt trauma patients with moderately depressed GCS decreases time to intervention and reduces ED time. A protocol to shorten time to CTH may be beneficial for both patients and hospitals.
