Citation

Mohseni S, Bellander BM, Riddez L, Talving P, Thelin EP. Brain Inj. 2016; 30(10): 1256-1260.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section for Neurosurgery , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2016.1183823

PMID

27389876

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between positive blood alcohol level (BAL) and functional outcome in patients suffering severe traumatic brain injury. STUDY DESIGN: The brain trauma registry of an academic trauma centre was queried for patients admitted between January 2007 and December 2011. All patients (≥ 18 years) with a neurosurgical intensive care length of stay beyond 2 days were included. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, injury profile, laboratory test and outcomes were abstracted for analysis. Primary outcome was unfavourable functional outcome defined as Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) ≤ 3. Multivariable regression models were used for analysis.

RESULTS: Of the 352 patients, 39% were BAL (+) at admission. Patients with (+) BAL were significantly younger with less co-morbidities. The cohorts exhibited no significant difference in the severity of the intra-cranial injury and the use of intra-cranial monitoring or surgical interventions. Further, the groups presented no difference in in-hospital mortality (p = 0.1) or 1-year mortality (p = 0.5). There was a worse long-term functional outcome in (-) BAL patients compared to their BAL (+) counterparts after adjustment for confounders (GOS ≤ 3: AOR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.1-3.5, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: Positive BAL on admission is associated with a better long-term functional outcome in patients suffering severe traumatic brain injury.

Language: en