Repeat CT scan urged for head trauma patients on warfarin
Minor head trauma patients taking warfarin should have a repeat computed tomography scan prior to discharge to detect delayed hemorrhage, particularly in those with an initial international normalized ratio higher than 3, according to research published in the June issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
(HealthDay) -- Minor head trauma patients taking warfarin should have a repeat computed tomography (CT) scan prior to discharge to detect delayed hemorrhage, particularly in those with an initial international normalized ratio (INR) higher than 3, according to research published in the June issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Vincenzo G. Menditto, M.D., of the Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona in Italy, and colleagues conducted a prospective case series of 97 consecutive patients receiving warfarin who had experienced a minor head injury. The authors sought to evaluate whether a 24-hour observation protocol and repeat CT scan is optimal management for patients who have had one negative CT scan.
The researchers found that, in 6 percent of 87 patients for whom a repeat CT scan was available, a new hemorrhagic lesion was detected, which resulted in hospitalization for three patients and craniotomy for one patient. Two patients were later readmitted for symptomatic subdural hematomas after receiving two negative CT scans. Patients with an INR greater than 3 were 14 times more likely to experience a delayed hemorrhage as those with a lower INR.
"In conclusion, our data support the general effectiveness of the European Federation of Neurological Societies' recommendations for 24-hour observation followed by a repeated head CT scan for anti-coagulated patients with a minor head injury," the authors write. "This protocol will identify most occurrences of delayed bleeding. An initial international normalized ratio greater than 3 suggests higher risk."
More information: Abstract
Full Text
Journal reference:
Annals of Emergency Medicine
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
-
Hospitalizing children with normal CT scans after blunt head trauma is not necessary
Jun 17, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Minority children less likely to receive CT scans following head trauma
Oct 14, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
New CATCH rule to determine need for CT scans in children with minor head injury
Feb 08, 2010 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Use of CT scans in emergency rooms increased 330 percent in 12 years
Aug 10, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Routine follow-up scans can detect head and neck cancer recurrences earlier
Jan 26, 2012 |
not rated yet |
0
-
Motion perception revisited: High Phi effect challenges established motion perception assumptions
Apr 23, 2013 |
3 / 5 (2) |
2
-
Anything you can do I can do better: Neuromolecular foundations of the superiority illusion (Update)
Apr 02, 2013 |
4.5 / 5 (11) |
5
-
The visual system as economist: Neural resource allocation in visual adaptation
Mar 30, 2013 |
5 / 5 (2) |
9
-
Separate lives: Neuronal and organismal lifespans decoupled
Mar 27, 2013 |
4.9 / 5 (8) |
0
-
Sizing things up: The evolutionary neurobiology of scale invariance
Feb 28, 2013 |
4.8 / 5 (10) |
14
-
Classical and Quantum Mechanics via Lie algebras
Apr 15, 2011
- More from Physics Forums - Independent Research
More news stories
Flesh-eating disease victim gets prosthetic hands
(AP)—A woman who lost both hands, her left leg and right foot after contracting a flesh-eating disease has been fitted with prosthetic hands.
Other
16 hours ago |
not rated yet |
0
Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill
(AP)—Medical marijuana use in Illinois is now in Gov. Pat Quinn's hands after the state Senate approved legislation.
Other
May 17, 2013 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
Nigerian court jails two over killer teething drug
A Nigerian court on Friday sentenced two officials from a pharmaceutical company to seven years in prison over the sale of an adulterated teething drug which killed 84 babies in 2008.
Other
May 17, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Many patients would switch doc to cut health care costs
(HealthDay)—Many Americans feel that keeping out-of-pocket health care costs is more important than staying with the same primary care physician.
Other
May 17, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
Cultural attitudes impede organ donations in China
(AP)—China is phasing out its reliance on executed prisoners for donated organs, but an architect of the country's transplant system said Friday that ingrained cultural attitudes are impeding the rise of ...
Other
May 17, 2013 |
not rated yet |
0
New research identifies risks, interventions for children's GI health
An increasing number of U.S. children are experiencing gastrointestinal issues that require interventions to resolve, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
AIDS science at 30: 'Cure' now part of lexicon
Big names in medicine are set to give an upbeat assessment of the war on AIDS on Tuesday, 30 years after French researchers identified the virus that causes the disease.
For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests
Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or ...
US psychiatry gets makeover in new manual
The latest makeover to a massive psychiatric tome honored by some, reviled by others and even called the "Bible" of mental disorders is being released Saturday with a host of new changes.
New case of SARS-like virus in Saudi: ministry
A new case of the deadly coronavirus has been detected in Saudi Arabia where 15 people have already died after contracting it, the health ministry announced on Saturday on its Internet website.
New colonoscope provides ground-breaking view of colon
A ground-breaking advance in colonoscopy technology signals the future of colorectal care, according to research presented today at Digestive Disease Week(DDW). Additional research focuses on optimizing the minimal withdrawal ...
