@article{ref1,
title="Traumatic brain injury and alcohol intoxication: effects on injury patterns and short-term outcome",
journal="European journal of trauma and emergency surgery",
year="2020",
author="Leijdesdorff, Henry Alexander and Legué, Juno and Krijnen, Pieta and Rhemrev, Steven and Kleinveld, Sanne and Schipper, Inger Birgitta",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="PURPOSE: A significant number of patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are diagnosed with elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Recent literature suggests a neuroprotective effect of alcohol on TBI, possibly associated with less morbidity and mortality. Our goal is to analyze the association of different levels of BAC with TBI characteristics and outcome. <br><br>METHODS: Adult patients with moderate to severe TBI (AIS ≥ 2) and measured BAC admitted to the Trauma Centre West (TCW), during the period 2010-2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Data included injury severity (AIS), length of hospitalization, admittance to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and in-hospital mortality. The association of BAC with ICU admittance and in-hospital mortality was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis with correction for potentially confounding variables. <br><br>RESULTS: BACs were available in 2,686 patients of whom 42% had high, 26% moderate, 6% low and 26% had normal levels. Patients with high BAC's were predominantly male, were younger, had lower ISS scores, lower AIS-head scores and less concomitant injuries compared to patients in the other BAC subgroups. High BACs were associated with a lower risk for in-hospital mortality (AOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.14-0.97). Also, patients with moderate and high BACs were less often admitted to the ICU (respectively, AOR 0.36, 95% CI 0.25-0.52 and AOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.29-0.57). <br><br>CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that in patients with moderate to severe TBI, increasing BACs are associated with less severe TBI, less ICU admissions and a higher survival. Further research into the pathophysiological mechanism is necessary to help explain these findings.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1863-9933",
doi="10.1007/s00068-020-01381-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00068-020-01381-6"
}