BACKGROUND: Patients on antithrombotics experiencing mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may benefit from a routine repeat CT scan to detect delayed intracranial hemorrhage (dICH).
OBJECTIVES: The primary outcome was the incidence of dICH on routine repeat CT scans of mTBI patients on antithrombotics within an intra-hospital observation period of up to 48 hours. The secondary outcomes were potential risk factors, readmissions, neurosurgical interventions, and mortality.
METHODS: A systematic review and a meta-analysis of single proportions were performed according to the PRISMA and PRESS guidelines. The risk of bias was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
RESULTS: Eighteen studies with 4613 patients were included. The pooled incidence of dICH was 2% [95% CI 1-2%] with similar rates between different antithrombotic regimens, even in combination. Of the 67 patients with dICH reported (1.45%), eleven required surgery (0.24%), while six died (0.13%). Loss of consciousness was a risk factor of dICH (risk ratio 3.04 [95%CI 0.96; 9.58]). A total of 48 patients were reported for readmission without associated death or surgical intervention.
CONCLUSION: The contribution of this routine repeat CT scan should be questioned due to the low incidence, the limited clinical significance, and the unsubstantiated clinical benefit of early or systematic detection of dICH.