Correlating the Blood Alcohol Concentration with Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury: Too Much Is Not a Bad Thing

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 1416-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherisse Berry ◽  
Eric J. Ley ◽  
Daniel R. Margulies ◽  
James Mirocha ◽  
Marko Bukur ◽  
...  

Although recent evidence suggests a beneficial effect of alcohol for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), the level of alcohol that confers the protective effect is unknown. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between admission blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and outcomes in patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI. From 2005 to 2009, the Los Angeles County Trauma Database was queried for all patients ≥14 years of age with isolated moderate to severe TBI and admission serum alcohol levels. Patients were then stratified into four levels based on admission BAC: None (0 mg/dL), low (0-100 mg/dL), moderate (100-230 mg/dL), and high (≥230 mg/dL). Demographics, patient characteristics, and outcomes were compared across levels. In evaluating 3794 patients, the mortality rate decreased with increasing BAC levels (linear trend P < 0.0001). In determining the relationship between BAC and mortality, multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated a high BAC level was significantly protective (adjusted odds ratio 0.55; 95% confidence interval: 0.38-0.8; P = 0.002). In the largest study to date, a high (≥230 mg/dL) admission BAC was independently associated with improved survival in patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI. Additional research is warranted to investigate the potential therapeutic implications.

2015 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Petter Rundhaug ◽  
Kent Gøran Moen ◽  
Toril Skandsen ◽  
Kari Schirmer-Mikalsen ◽  
Stine B. Lund ◽  
...  

OBJECT The influence of alcohol is assumed to reduce consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but research findings are divergent. The aim of this investigation was to study the effects of different levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores in patients with moderate and severe TBI and to relate the findings to brain injury severity based on the admission CT scan. METHODS In this cohort study, 265 patients (age range 16–70 years) who were admitted to St. Olavs University Hospital with moderate and severe TBI during a 7-year period were prospectively registered. Of these, 217 patients (82%) had measured BAC. Effects of 4 BAC groups on GCS score were examined with ordinal logistic regression analyses, and the GCS scores were inverted to give an OR > 1. The Rotterdam CT score based on admission CT scan was used to adjust for brain injury severity (best score 1 and worst score 6) by stratifying patients into 2 brain injury severity groups (Rotterdam CT scores of 1–3 and 4–6). RESULTS Of all patients with measured BAC, 91% had intracranial CT findings and 43% had BAC > 0 mg/dl. The median GCS score was lower in the alcohol-positive patients (6.5, interquartile range [IQR] 4–10) than in the alcohol-negative patients (9, IQR 6–13; p < 0.01). No significant differences were found between alcohol-positive and alcohol-negative patients regarding other injury severity variables. Increasing BAC was a significant predictor of lower GCS score in a dose-dependent manner in age-adjusted analyses, with OR 2.7 (range 1.4–5.0) and 3.2 (range 1.5–6.9) for the 2 highest BAC groups (p < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed an increasing effect of BAC group on GCS scores in patients with Rotterdam CT scores of 1–3: OR 3.1 (range 1.4–6.6) and 6.7 (range 2.7–16.7) for the 2 highest BAC groups (p < 0.01). No such relationship was found in patients with Rotterdam CT scores of 4–6 (p = 0.14–0.75). CONCLUSIONS Influence of alcohol significantly reduced the GCS score in a dose-dependent manner in patients with moderate and severe TBI and with Rotterdam CT scores of 1–3. In patients with Rotterdam CT scores of 4–6, and therefore more CT findings indicating increased intracranial pressure, the brain injury itself seemed to overrun the depressing effect of the alcohol on the CNS. This finding is in agreement with the assumption of many clinicians in the emergency situation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1067-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherisse Berry ◽  
Ali Salim ◽  
Rodrigo Alban ◽  
James Mirocha ◽  
Daniel R. Margulies ◽  
...  

Animal studies routinely demonstrate an alcohol (ETOH) -mediated increase in survival after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recent clinical studies also suggest ETOH plays a neuroprotective role in moderate to severe TBI. We sought to investigate the relationship between ETOH and outcomes in patients with moderate to severe TBI using a countywide database. The Los Angeles County Trauma System database was queried for all adult (older than 14 years) patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI trauma (head Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] 3 or greater, all other AIS 3 or less) who had ETOH levels measured on admission between 1998 and 2005. A total of 7304 patients were evaluated with 3219 (44.1%) patients testing positive for serum ETOH. ETOH-positive patients with TBI had a significantly lower mortality rate compared with ETOH negative patients (8.5 vs 10.5%, P = 0.005). Even after logistic regression analysis, a positive ETOH was associated with reduced mortality (adjusted OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.99, P = 0.035). Therefore, a positive serum ETOH level was independently associated with significantly improved survival in patients with isolated moderate to severe TBI. The neuroprotective role ETOH plays in TBI is in contrast to previous findings and deserves further attention as a potential therapeutic.


Brain Injury ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman El-Menyar ◽  
Rafael Consunji ◽  
Mohammed Asim ◽  
Ahammed Mekkodathil ◽  
Rifat Latifi ◽  
...  

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S96-S96
Author(s):  
R. Green ◽  
N. Kureshi ◽  
L. Fenerty ◽  
G. Thibault-Halman ◽  
M. Erdogan ◽  
...  

Introduction: Although alcohol use increases the risk of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it remains unclear whether outcomes in alcohol-impaired patients are different from those of unimpaired patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alcohol on length of stay (LOS) and mortality in patients with major TBI. Methods: Using data collected from the Nova Scotia Trauma Registry, we performed a retrospective analysis of all patients with major TBI (defined as having an abbreviated injury score (AIS) head ≥3) seen in Nova Scotia hospitals between 2002 and 2013. Patients were compared by blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at time of injury: negative (0-1.9 mmol/L), low (2-21 mmol/L), and moderate/high (≥22 mmol/L). A logistic regression model was constructed to test for outcomes and adjusted for the effects of age, gender, location, injury severity score (ISS), and BAC level. Results: In a twelve-year period, there were 4152 major TBI patients in Nova Scotia. Alcohol testing was performed in 43% of cases (80% male, mean age 44±20 years), with 48% having a positive BAC. Mean acute LOS was similar for all three BAC groups. Increasing age (odds ratio [OR]=1.01; p<0.001), high ISS (OR=4.92; p<0.001), injuries occurring outside of Halifax Regional Municipality (OR=1.72; p<0.001), and having a lower BAC level (OR = 0.99; p<0.001) independently predicted mortality. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that low BAC levels are associated with increased mortality in major TBI patients. Further study is warranted to elucidate alcohol’s mechanism in TBI outcomes.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Duc Chinh ◽  

Purpose: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is still considered as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality of victims by traffic accident. Despite a fact that many measurements and preventions have been applied, the rate of TBI is remained high. Aim of this study was to investigate treatment process of TBI caused by road traffic accident at Viet Duc Hospital after the Decree 100 which has been issued in Vietnam in early 2020. Materials and method: A retrospective and prospective study has been conducted in Viet Duc Hospital from Dec, 2020 to March, 2021. All the patients with TBI by road traffic accident were enrolled. Severity of TBI was identified by Glasgow Scale (GCS) and BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) test taken on arrival. The data was collected from medical record as well as autopsy report and analysed by SPSS.20.0 Results: A total of 150 patients with TBI by road traffic accidents were enrolled, age group from 21 to 60 years old accounted for 64%, male accounted for 86.7%. Associated injuries were maxillofacial lesions 48%, extremities 24.7%, chest accounted for 20%. Severity of TBI with GCS 6 - 8 was the highest rate 52%, from 3 - 5 GCS accounted for 30%. 40% were operated on emergency; BAC was positive 46.7%, of which over from 50 mg/L accounted for 32.6%. The patients with GCS from 6 to 8 were BAC positive accounted for a higher rate than groups with GCS above 9 or below 5. The most common TBI lesions were subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma and cerebral edema accounted for 67.3%, 60% and 58% respectively. Overall mortality was 26% including in-hospital death and discharged to die. Conclusions and recommendations: Data from the study has shown that many young men with severe TBI by road traffic accident were BAC positive which can results in the high risk of death and disability. Thus, we highly recommend counterparts should constantly strengthen the propaganda and enforcement measures in order to reduce traffic accidents and TBI patients. Keywords: traffic accidents; injury; brain trauma severity.


1959 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. B. Coldwell ◽  
H. Ward Smith

Known volumes of 70-proof distilled spirits were fed to 68 volunteers, making a total of 141 separate doses. The amount of alcohol appearing in the venous blood, saliva, and urine at various time intervals after ingestion was determined by a modified Widmark method, and in the breath by the Breathalyzer. The relationship between time after ingestion, venous blood alcohol concentration (VBA), and Breathalyzer reading (BR) was as follows:(1) between 0.5 and 2.5 hours after ingestion, VBA = (BR + 0.048) ± 0.124 mg/ml;(2) between 30 to 40 minutes after ingestion, VBA = (BR − 0.071) ± 0.065 mg/ml;(3) between 2 to 2.5 hours after ingestion, VBA = (BR + 0.102) ± 0.117 mg/ml. The weighted average ratios of saliva and urine alcohols to venous blood alcohol were 1.12:1 and 1.24:1, respectively. The standard error of estimating the venous blood alcohol indirectly from the saliva alcohol was ±0.075 mg/ml, and from urine alcohol ±0.081 mg/ml when the samples were obtained from 0.5 to 2.5 and from 0.75 to 2.5 hours after drinking, respectively. Over the range of concentrations studied alcohol disappeared from the venous blood at the rate of 0.13 ±0.05 mg/ml/hr and the quantity eliminated from the whole body, per 100 lb of body weight per hour, approximated 0.4 fl. oz of 70-proof distilled spirits.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel W Spaite ◽  
Uwe Stolz ◽  
Bentley J Bobrow ◽  
Vatsal Chikani ◽  
Duane Sherrill ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia (HOx) or hypotension (HT) occurring during the EMS management of major traumatic brain injury-TBI reduces survival. However, little is known about the impact of both HOx and HT, occurring together, on outcome. Only a handful of reports have studied the combination of prehospital HOx/HT in TBI and the largest of these only had 14 cases with both. Objectives: To evaluate the associations between mortality and prehospital HOx and HT, both separately and in combination. METHODS: All moderate/severe TBI cases (CDC Barell Matrix Type-1) in the Excellence in Prehospital Injury Care (EPIC) TBI Study (a statewide, before/after controlled study of the impact of implementing the EMS TBI Treatment Guidelines-NIH/NINDS: 1R01NS071049) from 1/1/08-6/30/12 were evaluated [exclusions: age<10; death before ED arrival; EMS O2 saturation-“sat”<11%; EMS SBP less than 40 or greater than 200; missing sat (5.4% of cases) or SBP (3.1% of cases)]. The relationship between mortality and HOx (sat <90) and/or HT (SBP<90) was assessed with crude and adjusted odds ratios (cOR, aOR) using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for important confounders (see Figure) and accounting for clustering by Trauma Center. RESULTS: 9194 cases were included [Median age: 46 (IQR: 26-65); Male: 68.1%]. 8109 (88.2%) had no HOx/HT, 535 (5.8%) had HOx only, 419 (4.6%) had HT only, and 131 (1.4%) had both HOx/HT. The Figure shows the cORs and aORs for death. CONCLUSION: In this large analysis of major TBI, prehospital HOx and HT were associated with significantly increased mortality. However, the combination of HT and HOx together had a profoundly-negative effect on survival even after controlling for significant confounders. In fact, the aOR for death in patients with both HOx/HT was more than 3 times greater than for those with HOx or HT alone. Since the TBI Guidelines emphasize the prevention and treatment of HOx and HT, their implementation has the potential to significantly impact outcome.


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