USF-LVHN SELECT

Progression of Intracranial Hemorrhage Comparing Unfractionated Heparin Versus Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Chemoprophylaxis in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Publication/Presentation Date

4-14-2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) progression in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH) versus low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis.

METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on TBI patients with ICH who were treated at a level one trauma center between January 2018 and July 2020. Patients included had two or more CT head scans and received either UFH or LMWH within 24 hours after stable imaging. The primary outcome was ICH progression on follow-up CT. Secondary outcomes included hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS: Among 335 patients (28% female, 72% male), 160 received UFH, and 175 received LMWH. ICH progression after VTE prophylaxis was higher in the UFH group (6.3% vs. 1.7%, p=0.032). Hospital LOS and ICU LOS were longer in the UFH group (21.3 vs. 14.9 days, p=0.027; 11.1 vs. 6.5 days, p

CONCLUSION: VTEp with LMWH in patients with TBI was associated with a lower risk of ICH progression, hospital LOS, and ICU LOS when compared to UFH. While cohort differences may have been contributory, LMWH remained independently associated with lower ICH progression and shorter LOS after adjusting for risk level and injury mechanism.

First Page

123982

Last Page

123982

ISSN

1878-8769

Disciplines

Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

40239859

Department(s)

USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students

Document Type

Article

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