Venous thromboembolism risk among pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury: a nationwide study of 44,128 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires balancing the risk of progression of intracranial bleeding versus the risk of VTE. The identification of VTE risk factors requires analysis of a very large data set. This case-control study aimed to identify VTE risk factors in pediatric patients with TBI in order to develop a TBI-specific association model that can be used for VTE risk stratification in this population. METHODS: The study included patients (aged 1-17 years) from the 2013-2019 US National Trauma Data Bank who were admitted for TBI in order to identify risk factors for VTE. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop an association model. RESULTS: Of 44,128 study participants, 257 (0.58%) developed VTE. Risk factors associated with VTE included age (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.010-1.080), body mass index (OR 1.034, 95% CI 1.013-1.055), Injury Severity Score (OR 1.049, 95% CI 1.039-1.059), blood product administration (OR 1.436, 95% CI 1.008-2.046), presence of a central venous catheter (OR 3.333, 95% CI 2.431-4.571), and development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (OR 3.650, 95% CI 2.469-5.396). Based on this model, the predicted VTE risk in pediatric patients with TBI ranged from 0% to 16.8%. CONCLUSIONS: A model that includes age, body mass index, Injury Severity Score, blood transfusion, use of a central venous catheter, and ventilator-associated pneumonia can help to risk stratify pediatric patients with TBI from the standpoint of implementation of VTE chemoprophylaxis.

Incidental Appendiceal Tumors During Appendectomy: A Nineteen-Year Retrospective Review at a Municipal Hospital.

Non-operative management of appendicitis (NOMA) has recently gained popularity, but a concern is that NOMA might miss appendiceal neoplasms. We conducted a retrospective review of 1694 appendectomies done for acute appendicitis at our institution between January 2001 and December 2019 to study the incidence and distribution of appendiceal tumors. We identified 24 appendiceal neoplasms (1.43%), including 9 Low Grade Appendiceal Mucinous Neoplasms (LAMNs), 6 neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), 6 mucoceles, and one each of adenocarcinoma, endometrioma, and neurofibroma. Tumor occurrence had two age peaks, with LAMNs prominent in the 5th and 6th decades of life and NETs in the 2nd and 3rd decades. All patients under age 40 had benign disease. Presence of appendicoliths was independent of the presence of neoplasms. All cases were managed per National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, with twenty cases cured by appendectomy alone. Given these, we conclude that NOMA is safe for patients under 40.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Frequency of Blast Exposure, mTBI History, and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are common conditions among military personnel that frequently co-occur. This study investigated relationships between self-reported blast exposure, mTBI history, and current post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in a population of active duty service members (n = 202) from the Intensive Outpatient Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were divided into four mTBI groups (0, 1, 2, and 3+) and four blast exposure groups (0-10, 11-100, 101-1,000, and 1,000+). Self-reported lifetime mTBI and blast history were obtained via the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method. PTSS severity was obtained via the PTSD Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C). Several secondary measures of depression, anxiety, chronic mTBI symptoms, and sleep were also assessed. RESULTS: The total PCL-C scores differed significantly between mTBI groups, with significant differences detected between the 0/1 mTBI groups and the 3+ mTBI groups. Similar group differences were noted across the three PCL-C subgroup scores (avoidance, re-experiencing, and hyperarousal); however, when comparing the proportion of group participants meeting DSM-IV criteria for each symptom cluster, significant differences between mTBI groups were only noted for avoidance (P = .002). No group differences were noted in PTS symptom severity or distribution between blast groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates an association between lifetime mTBI history and PTS symptom severity and distribution but failed to identify the significant group in self-reported symptoms between the blast exposure groups. Results suggest that additional research is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanism behind these associations and the need for the development of precise assessment tools that are able to more accurately quantify significant lifetime sub-concussive and blast exposures experienced by service members in training and combat operations.