Coagulation abnormalities in patients with head injury.

Area of Science:

• Neurotrauma
• Hematology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Head injuries can significantly impact systemic physiological functions.
• Coagulation disturbances are a potential complication following traumatic brain injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in key coagulation parameters in patients with head trauma.
• To assess the incidence of laboratory findings suggestive of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in this patient group.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of five specific coagulation parameters: platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, and fibrinogen degradation products.
• Analysis conducted on a cohort of 60 patients diagnosed with head trauma.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of head-traumatized patients exhibited abnormal values across the studied coagulation parameters.
• Five patients presented laboratory results consistent with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Conclusions:

• Coagulation system abnormalities are frequent in head-traumatized patients.
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) may be a significant contributing factor to mortality in this population.
• Routine and careful evaluation of coagulation status is crucial for managing patients with head injuries.