ABSTRACT
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a major cause of death and disability. Head computed tomography (CT) is an invaluable tool in the evaluation of patients with suspected TBI. Most institutions obtain a head CT for any patient with blunt trauma and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of less than 15. Repeat head CT scans are routinely performed to evaluate the progression of intracranial bleeding or to assess the need for neurosurgical intervention. Given the increased cost and risk of moving critically ill patients, several studies have called this practice into question. Chemical deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis has been an intense area of research in the trauma literature. Grade B recommendations support low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) as the most effective method of prophylaxis to prevent DVT in trauma patients without TBI. Posttraumatic seizure activity occurs both early and late after injury.
