Disseminated intravascular coagulation related to outcome in head injury

In 46 head-injured patients coagulation studies were performed immediately after admission. In 76% of all cases signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were found. DIC was related to the severity of the injury and outcome. It is suggested that DIC may be used as an important parameter in assessing craniocerebral trauma. In a previous report it was stated that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is met frequently in head-injured patients (2.5--15.3%), and is associated with a more severe grade of injury and an increased mortality. This paper explores in more detail the relationship between outcome after head-injury and signs of DIC, as detected by laboratory studies performed in the first few hours after injury.