Changes in coagulation factors and their correlation with the clinical course of trauma patients

ABSTRACT

Appropriate diagnosis and proper treatment of the complications of head injury are the most common procedures encountered by neurosurgeons. Good management of the factors effective in the outcome of these cases, among which the derangements in the coagulation factors are one of the most common changes, can be one of the essential milestones in treatment of such victims. The objectives of this study have been to find the derangements in the blood coagulating factors in the cases referred to the head trauma emergency care unit of Sina Hospital as a hospital-based study. We try to see if there is any correlation between these coagulopathies and the extent of damages, brain damages in the CT-scans, and patients' outcome. To our idea, it is for the first time that such a prospective study has been undertaken in Iran. All the information are taken from the questionnaires addressed to 300 cases admitted to the emergency head trauma unit of Sina Hospital. Prothrombin time [PT], Thromboplastin time [PTT] and platelet counts, level of consciousness [GCS], associated extremities' or visceral injuries, and findings in the X-ray films and CT scans, all have been included in this questionnaire. The coagulopathies are much more prevalent in cases with severe head injury. The coagulopathies are also more prevalent in cases with remarkable brain damages in their imaging studies. They are much more prevalent in cases who are going to reach a bad outcome: