CureusPub Date : 2024-10-30eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72705
Francesco Marrone, Tommaso Sorrentino, Pierfrancesco Fusco, Maria Eleonora Monte, Saverio Paventi, Marco Tomei, Fabrizio Fattorini, Carmine Pullano
{"title":"The Lumbosacral Erector Spinae Plane Block for Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Case Report.","authors":"Francesco Marrone, Tommaso Sorrentino, Pierfrancesco Fusco, Maria Eleonora Monte, Saverio Paventi, Marco Tomei, Fabrizio Fattorini, Carmine Pullano","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72705","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.72705","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After major abdominal surgery and open hysterectomy, postoperative pain management is often challenging. Various abdominal fascial and truncal blocks, including paravertebral, erector spinae plane, transversus abdominis plane, and quadratus lumborum blocks, have been evaluated for their efficacy. When used in a multimodal pain control strategy, after an open abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia, the novel sacral erector spinae plane block showed promising results in terms of safety, efficacy, and minimal invasiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11524167/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Occupational Cement Dust Exposure on Hematological Health Parameters: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Rahnuma Ahmad, Md Ahsanul Haq, Susmita Sinha, Miral Mehta, Santosh Kumar, Mainul Haque, Qazi Shamima Akhter","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72673","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.72673","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Contact with the dust of cement consisting of toxic components brings about inflammatory damage (often irreversible) to the body of a human being. The circulatory system exhibits sensitivity to inflammatory changes in the body, and one of the earliest changes may be observed in the blood parameters like mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). MCHC and MCH are possibly easily accessible and affordable parameters that can detect harmful changes in the body before any irreversible damage occurs. Objectives This research aimed to seek the changes in MCHC and MCH upon occupational contact with the toxic dust of cement. Methods The execution of this research was done in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh, and a cement plant in Munshiganj, Bangladesh. This research was carried out between September 2017 and August 2018. Individuals (20 to 50 years old, 92 male adults) participated and were grouped into the group with occupational cement dust impact (46 subjects) and the group without occupational dust of cement impact (46 subjects). Data was collected in a pre-designed questionnaire. An independent sample t-test was conducted to analyze statistical and demographic data like body mass index and blood pressure. A multivariate regression model was applied to note the impact of cement dust on the group working in this dusty environment. Again, a multivariate regression model was employed to observe whether the duration of exposure to this dust affected MCHC and MCH. The significance level was demarcated at p < 0.05 Stata-15 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, US) for statistical analysis, and GraphPad Prism v8.3.2 (Insight Venture Management, LLC, New York, NY, US) was employed to present the data graphically when required. Results There was a reduction in MCHC by 0.58 g/dL and MCH levels by 0.68 pg in the cement dust-exposed subjects when compared to controls, but not significant (95% CI: -0.93, 2.10; <i>p</i> <i> </i>= 0.448 and 95% CI: -0.37, 1.73; <i>p</i> = 0.203, respectively). However, MCHC was reduced significantly by 0.51 g/dL (p = 0.011) with the duration of exposure to the dust. Conclusion The study showed that MCHC was significantly reduced with the duration of exposure to cement dust in cement plant workers. Such alterations may hamper heme synthesis, hemolysis, and inflammatory changes in the body.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11528039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142570760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72646
Abhiyan Bhandari
{"title":"Revolutionizing Radiology With Artificial Intelligence.","authors":"Abhiyan Bhandari","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72646","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72646","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the field of radiology, offering significant advancements in diagnostic accuracy, workflow efficiency, and patient care. This article explores AI's impact on various subfields of radiology, emphasizing its potential to improve clinical practices and enhance patient outcomes. AI-driven technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing (NLP) are playing a pivotal role in automating routine tasks, aiding in early disease detection, and supporting clinical decision-making, allowing radiologists to focus on more complex diagnostic challenges. Key applications of AI in radiology include improving image analysis through computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems, which enhance the detection of abnormalities in imaging, such as tumors. AI tools have demonstrated high accuracy in analyzing medical images, integrating data from multiple imaging modalities such as CT, MRI, and PET to provide comprehensive diagnostic insights. These advancements facilitate personalized treatment planning and complement radiologists' workflows. However, for AI to be fully integrated into radiology workflows, several challenges must be addressed, including ensuring transparency in how AI algorithms work, protecting patient data, and avoiding biases that could affect diverse populations. Developing explainable AI systems that can clearly show how decisions are made is crucial, as is ensuring AI tools can seamlessly fit into existing radiology systems. Collaboration between radiologists, AI developers, and policymakers, alongside strong ethical guidelines and regulatory oversight, will be key to ensuring AI is implemented safely and effectively in clinical practice. Overall, AI holds tremendous promise in revolutionizing radiology. Through its ability to automate complex tasks, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and streamline workflows, AI has the potential to significantly improve the quality and efficiency of radiology practices. Continued research, development, and collaboration will be crucial in unlocking AI's full potential and addressing the challenges that accompany its adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72600
Shiori Sakurai, Yuji Kawamura, Eri Nohmi, Takemasa Kokubo, Takashi Koikeda
{"title":"A Randomized, Comparative Study of Skin Adhesion Between CATHEREEPLUS Pad and Tegaderm Pad Film Dressings in Healthy Participants.","authors":"Shiori Sakurai, Yuji Kawamura, Eri Nohmi, Takemasa Kokubo, Takashi Koikeda","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72600","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.72600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Objective This study aimed to compare the adhesion of CATHEREEPLUS<sub>TM</sub> Pad (CPSP; NICHIBAN Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and Tegaderm<sup>TM</sup> +Pad (TGMP; 3M, Maplewood, MN, USA) film dressings on the forearm skin of healthy participants over a four-day application period. Methods Twenty-six randomly assigned participants received CPSP dressing on one arm and TGMP on the other. The primary endpoint was adhesion to the skin after four days of dermal application. Secondary endpoints were adhesion and itchiness during the application period, pain experienced during dressing removal, skin maceration, adhesive residue immediately post-dressing removal, and skin reactions at one and 24 hours post-dressing removal. All endpoints were evaluated using a five- or six-point scoring system. Results Following four days of dressing application, 77% of participants in the CPSP group and 73% of those in the TGMP group scored 4 (most) or 5 (complete) for adhesion. No clinically significant problems such as itchiness, pain, skin maceration, adhesive residue, or skin reactions were observed in either group. No statistically significant differences in any of the endpoints were observed between the two groups. Conclusion Both CPSP and TGMP dressings showed good adhesion to the skin during four days of dermal application in healthy participants, with no significant difference in adhesion observed between the two groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72647
Muhammad Molik
{"title":"Trainee's Perceptions on Simulation-Based Education and Its Impact on Transitioning to the Role of Medical Registrar: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Muhammad Molik","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72647","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72647","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Background and aim In 2019, a three-year internal medicine training (IMT) program replaced the two-year core medical training program in the United Kingdom, incorporating the first year of medical registrar (MR) training into the same curriculum. In light of the considerable evidence supporting the effectiveness of simulation-based education (SBE) and the challenges inherent in transitioning, the design and delivery of SBE are now ideally positioned to facilitate this transition process and assess its impact. However, trainees' perceptions regarding the effectiveness of SBE in the IMT curriculum for transitioning to the MR role are not well-documented. This study aimed to explore and examine trainees' views on SBE in the IMT curriculum to prepare them to transition to the role of the MR. It sought to identify the critical qualities and skills that IMT trainees believe SBE should address to enable them to successfully fulfill the MR role, as well as to assess the extent to which internal medicine year three trainees perceive that SBE in its current form within the IMT curriculum has prepared them for the role of MR. Methods This qualitative study employed focus groups to explore individuals' perspectives on SBE in the IMT curriculum and its role in preparing them for the transition to the MR position. Four focus groups were conducted, two with core trainees (CTs) and two with MRs. Sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Eleven trainees participated in the study. Seven of them were CTs, with the remaining four in their first year as a MR. Six main themes emerged from the data, grouped into two main headings. The heading titled \"Perceptions of SBE\" included the themes \"Valuable Teaching Tool,\" \"A Squandered Resource,\" and \"Avoid Over-Reliance.\" In contrast, the heading \"Areas/Suggestions for Improving SBE\" included the themes \"Quantity and Scheduling,\" \"Feedback,\" and \"Draw on Others' Experiences.\" Conclusion The value of SBE was recognized, alongside the vital role of high-quality feedback. Other medical specialties and industries were highlighted for their effective implementation of SBE, offering a possible standard for educators involved in the IMT curriculum to pursue. There was a perception that SBE did not adequately support the ongoing maintenance of skills, placing considerable reliance on real-world clinical practice to fulfill this need. The limitations inherent in SBE were acknowledged, and educators are encouraged to explore ways to optimize the use of all educational tools at their disposal, which may include the formal introduction of a shadowing period for trainees.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521357/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72642
Abdo Mohammed Mohammed Abdulrazzaq
{"title":"Advancing Diabetic Dental Restorations: A Comparative Analysis of Alveolar Bone Loss in Class II Composite Resin Versus Amalgam Fillings.","authors":"Abdo Mohammed Mohammed Abdulrazzaq","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72642","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction This study evaluated the impact of Class II composite resin and amalgam restorations on alveolar bone loss in diabetic patients, a population more susceptible to periodontal complications. The main objective was to determine whether the choice of restorative material impacts periodontal health, providing insights to optimize dental care for this high-risk group. Materials and methods This observational, comparative. cross-sectional study included 64 diabetic patients, divided into two groups based on their Class II restorations. Group 1 had 32 patients with composite resin restorations, while Group 2 comprised 32 patients with amalgam restorations. Both groups were matched for age and diabetes duration to ensure comparability. Periodontal health, specifically alveolar bone loss, was assessed through clinical and radiographic evaluations. The study analyzed the impact of the two materials on alveolar bone levels. Results Data from 64 diabetic patients (32 in Group 1 and 32 in Group 2) were statistically analyzed using PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18.0 (Released 2009; SPSS Inc., Chicago, United States). Three statistical tests, descriptive statistics, two-sample t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), were used. The results showed significant differences between the two groups, with composite resin restorations linked to greater alveolar bone loss. Conclusion The choice of restorative material significantly influences periodontal health in diabetic patients. Composite resin restorations were associated with a higher risk of alveolar bone loss and periodontal disease, emphasizing the need for careful material selection and regular periodontal monitoring in diabetic patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521317/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72652
Riana Kumarajothy, Anwar Ul-Haq, Muhammad M Akhtar
{"title":"A Case Report on Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis.","authors":"Riana Kumarajothy, Anwar Ul-Haq, Muhammad M Akhtar","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72652","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.72652","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Low serum potassium levels can precipitate a rare condition called hypokalemic periodic paralysis. A patient may be predisposed to this phenomenon through hereditary or acquired causes. We present a case of a 21-year-old female who presented with sudden-onset generalized weakness and hypokalemia, which was treated promptly in the Accident and Emergency department, which led to a quick resolution of symptoms. This case highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment at the time of presentation to prevent the progression of symptoms and further complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522841/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Atraumatic Splenic Rupture Unveiling Mumps With an Underlying B-cell Lymphoid Hyperplasia: A Diagnostic Conundrum.","authors":"Inderjeet Singh, Hariharasudhan Balaji, Nithin Jyothy","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72671","DOIUrl":"10.7759/cureus.72671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atraumatic splenic rupture (ASR) is an unfamiliar entity that is potentially life-threatening if there is a delay in the diagnosis. Due to its rarity and its non-specific presentation, it can be a challenge to diagnose early. In this report, we present a case of a 42-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with nonspecific abdominal pain and had no past medical history. The patient presented abdominal pain associated with nausea, vomiting, and sweating. On examination, the patient was found to be tachycardic and mildly hypotensive, with mild left upper quadrant tenderness, and a lactate of 4 mmol/L on venous blood gas analysis. He was urgently transferred to the resuscitation area, where resuscitation commenced. Further investigations revealed significant anemia. The contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen performed revealed a 13-cm splenic hemostasis suggestive of non-traumatic splenic rupture. The patient lacked any history of blunt trauma or family history that could account for the splenic rupture. The patient was taken to the theatre by the surgical team as he remained unstable. He received four units of blood in the theatre and underwent splenectomy due to the spleen being unsalvageable. Post-operatively, the patient was admitted to the high-dependency unit (HDU) for close monitoring. Histological examination of the splenic tissue revealed B-cell lymphoid hyperplasia and negative PCR for clonality. The patient was found to be IgG-positive for mumps and was not vaccinated for MMR. Surgeons believe it is the main cause of ASR, given that little literature available establishes the same. The case highlights the importance of consideration of ASR in patients presenting with unexplained abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability, even without evidence of trauma. Early imaging and operative intervention are lifesaving. The histologic findings indicate that there may be an associated hemopoietic disorder, and this case highlights the need for clinicians to consider splenic involvement in patients with mumps who present with abdominal pain or signs of hemodynamic instability.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11523189/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Efficacy of Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyor (REAC) Anti-inflammatory, Circulatory, and Metabolic Optimization Treatments for Managing Chronic Pain, Edema, and Lipodystrophy in Post-menopausal Women: A Case Series.","authors":"Ludmilla Higino Rocha, Alessandra Covallero Renck, Vania Fontani, Salvatore Rinaldi","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72653","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72653","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain, edema, and lipodystrophy are common issues in post-menopausal women, often linked to hormonal imbalances, metabolic dysfunctions, and chronic inflammation. Traditional treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and aesthetic procedures, frequently provide limited and temporary relief. This case series evaluates the effectiveness of radio electric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) technology specifically, the anti-cellulite treatment (ACT), circulatory optimization (CO), and metabolic optimization (MO) protocols in four post-menopausal women presenting with these conditions. Each patient underwent 18 sessions of ACT, CO, and MO protocols using the REAC Bio-Enhancer Neuro-Enhancer (BENE) 110 medical device (ASMED Srl, Scandicci Florence, Italy), with asymmetric conveyor probes (ACPs) symmetrically positioned on the quadriceps. The ACT protocol targeted skin and subcutaneous tissue biomechanical properties, the CO protocol focused on enhancing circulation and reducing edema, and the MO protocol aimed to restore metabolic balance. The results demonstrated significant improvements across all patients, with reductions in pain (9/10 to 3/10), edema, and lipodystrophy, as well as enhanced mood and overall well-being. Objective measures, such as reductions in thigh circumference and improvements in inflammatory markers, further supported the systemic benefits of REAC ACT, CO, and MO treatments. These findings suggest that REAC protocols offer a comprehensive and effective non-invasive treatment for chronic inflammatory and metabolic conditions in post-menopausal women.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11521398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
CureusPub Date : 2024-10-29eCollection Date: 2024-10-01DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72629
Aby Lal, Aneena Varghese, Sukhvinder Digpal
{"title":"Evaluating the Risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in Adults Following a Fall With Concomitant Use of Anti-Coagulation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Aby Lal, Aneena Varghese, Sukhvinder Digpal","doi":"10.7759/cureus.72629","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72629","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Introduction Falls and fractures are major health challenges for older adults in England. Despite the advantages of anticoagulants, their use in the elderly is often restricted due to concerns about fall-related injuries. However, there is a lack of clear data on the risk of discontinuing anticoagulation therapy solely due to fall risk. NICE guidelines (2021) advise that anticoagulation should not be withheld solely based on age or fall risk. This study aims to assess the incidence of significant brain injuries or intracranial haemorrhages in patients on anticoagulant therapy, also comparing the independent risk factors for traumatic brain injury. Objective This study aims to assess the incidence of TBI following falls in patients on anticoagulant therapy, comparing outcomes between those using DOACs and Vitamin K antagonists. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Queen Alexandra Hospital, University Hospitals Portsmouth NHS Trust, from November 2023 to May 2024. Data were collected from 3,468 CT head scans performed on patients with a history of falls, including 801 on anticoagulation therapy. Results Of the 801 patients on anticoagulation, 763 (95.2%) were aged 65 or older, with a mean age of 83.1 years. Acute hemorrhage was detected in 3.1% (25/801) of patients. Patients on Warfarin and Dabigatran had significantly higher TBI risk compared to those on Apixaban (6.7%, p=0.02; and 7.6%, p=0.01, respectively), while Edoxaban and Rivaroxaban showed no significant difference. Also, older age (≥65 years) and higher frailty scores (CFS 6 and 7) were associated with increased TBI risk (p<0.05). All patients with acute hemorrhage received conservative management, and two patients experienced mortality within six months. Discussion The study indicates that the risk of TBI following falls in anticoagulated patients is 3.1% relatively low, aligning with existing literature. This underscores the need for careful consideration before discontinuing anticoagulation therapy solely based on fall risk. Hence, discontinuation of anticoagulation should be a patient-specific decision that carefully considers the balance between the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the benefits of anticoagulation therapy. Factors such as age, frailty, and the type of anticoagulant should all be taken into account. Clinical judgment and selective CT imaging can help balance patient safety with healthcare costs. Conclusion The incidence of adverse outcomes following head injury in patients on anticoagulant therapy is 3.1% and relatively low. Careful decision-making regarding the discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy, informed by patient background and presentation and selective CT imaging, is essential to manage risks effectively and optimize healthcare resource utilization.</p>","PeriodicalId":93960,"journal":{"name":"Cureus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11520945/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142549729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}