Cardiac dysfunction in adult patients with traumatic brain injury: A prospective cohort study

Background: There are limited data regarding the development of myocardial dysfunction after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated incidence, risk factors, and prognostic importance of cardiac dysfunction in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after a moderate to severe TBI. Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive patients admitted to neuro-trauma ICU with moderate to severe TBI from August 2014 to June 2015. Results: A total of 46 patients were included. Patients’ mean (±SD) age was 44.7 (±20.7) years and mean Glasgow Coma Scale value was 5.6 (±3). Motor vehicle accident was the most common mechanism of TBI, with subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages as the most common pathologies. Cardiac dysfunction developed in 6 of 46 (13%) patients. Patients with cardiac dysfunction had higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (50% vs. 10%, P = 0.03) and higher proportion of electrocardiogram abnormalities (83% vs. 27%, P = 0.02) compared to the patients without cardiac dysfunction. Mean Glasgow Coma Scale scores were not significantly different between patients who developed cardiac dysfunction from those who did not (5.5 vs. 5.6, P = 0.95). Requirement for vasopressor support (33.3% vs. 40%, P = 1.0) and median ventilator days (5.2 vs. 4.7, P = 0.9) were similar between patients with and without cardiac dysfunction.There were no significant differences in hospital lengths of stay (12.3 vs. 13.8 days, P = 0.34) and hospital mortality (33% vs. 17.5%, P = 0.58) between the two groups. Conclusions: Cardiac dysfunction occurs in patients after moderate to severe TBI, with mild to moderate reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients who developed cardiac dysfunction after TBI had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus and higher proportion of abnormalities in electrocardiograms. Development of cardiac dysfunction was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes.