Blood Glucose Levels May Aid the Decision for CT Scan in Minor Head Trauma

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury has been associated with increased blood glucose levels. In the present study, we set out to investigate if blood glucose level in mild head trauma could predict the need for CT. One hundred fifty-nine patients with minor TBI (GCS 13-15) and a mean age of 44.8±23.8 years were included in the study. The most common mechanism of trauma was falls. Patients with positive CT findings had significantly higher glucose levels than patients with negative CT findings. Using ROC curve analysis, serum glucose levels higher than 120 mg dl-1 were the optimal cutoff value for the detection of patients with positive CT findings with a sensitivity of 74.4% and a specificity of 90.7%. Serum glucose level evaluation at presentation in the emergency department may aid CT decision-making in mild TBI.

Diagnostic Value of Low-Dose 256-Slice Spiral CT Angiography, MR Angiography, and 3D-DSA in Cerebral Aneurysms

“…The CTA imaging time is short, and scanning and postprocessing can be completed in a few minutes, saving time for the treatment of patients. The disadvantage is that there is still X-ray radiation, hence the need to inject contrast agent with allergic reactions [19].…”

Expert consensus on the glycemic management of critically ill patients

“…Post hoc analysis after matching the burn area and wound score indicated that the ADRR was the only blood glucose index significantly associated with the mortality of patients <43 years of age ( P < 0.01). [118] Dahagam et al [115] also confirmed that in critically ill patients with severe burns, glycemic variability was higher among those who died than those who survived (26% [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] vs. 21%, [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , P < 0.05), and multiple regression analysis showed that high glycemic variability was associated with prolonged hospital stay ( P < 0.05). Thus, excessive blood glucose variability and frequency of blood glucose falling outside the normal range should be avoided.…”

“…Trauma, surgery, hypoxemia, infection, and other factors put the body in a very stressful state, resulting in abnormal stress-associated hormone secretion, insufficient insulin secretion, and the production of numerous inflammatory cytokines. [23] , [24] Fluid infusion and nutritional therapy can also directly affect blood glucose and aggravate the hyperglycemia status of patients.…”

Novel Biomarkers May Aid the Decision for Ct Scan in Emergency Settings in Mild Head Trauma

“…Furthermore, positive CT findings were more common in patients presented with history of loss of consciousness and post traumatic amnesia. However, no significant difference was found in glucose levels between patients with and without alcohol intoxication [14]. Increased blood glucose levels have been also correlated with coagulopathy occurrence.…”