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Afibrinogenemia and blunt head injury
Intensive Care Medicine
|August 1, 1980
Summary
A patient with a Spitz-Holter drain experienced acute defibrination after blunt head injury. This rare condition, disseminated intravascular coagulation, was likely caused by brain thromboplastins entering the bloodstream via the drain.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Hematology
Background:
- Blunt head injuries can lead to complex neurological complications.
- Spitz-Holter drains are used for cerebrospinal fluid management.
Observation:
- A patient with a Spitz-Holter drain developed acute defibrination post-blunt head trauma.
- This suggests a potential link between the drain and coagulopathy.
Findings:
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was diagnosed.
- The proposed mechanism involves brain thromboplastins bypassing the blood-brain barrier via the drain.
Implications:
- Highlights a rare complication of drains in head trauma.
- Suggests careful monitoring for coagulopathy in patients with similar setups.
- Underscores the importance of the blood-brain barrier's protective role.