Systematic review on traumatic intracranial haemorrhage in patients on anti-thrombotic medications; haemorrhage progression, thrombosis, and anti-thrombotic recommencement.

A large number of patients who sustain a traumatic intracranial haemorrhage (tICH) are taking anti-thrombotic (AT) medications at the time of injury. These are stopped acutely, but there is uncertainty about safe timing for recommencement. This review aimed to understand the rate of new/progressive haemorrhage, thrombosis, and death in tICH patients on ATs and the rate and timing of AT recommencement. A systematic review of OVID Medline and EMBASE from 2000 to 2021 including adult patients with tICH on ATs with reported outcomes was performed. A total of 59 observational studies (20,421 patients) were included. Most patients were elderly (mean age 74), suffering falls (78%), and had a mild head injury. The mean new/progressive haemorrhage rate during admission was 26%, mostly diagnosed on routine imaging performed within 72 h of injury, with only 8% clinically significant. Thrombotic events were reported in 17 studies; mean rate of 3% during admission, 4-9% at 30 days and 3-11% at 6 months. AT recommencement rate and timing were only reported in six studies and varied widely, with some studies demonstrating reduced thrombotic events and mortality with earlier AT recommencement. Current data is observational and sparse in relation to haemorrhage, thrombosis, and AT recommencement. There is some suggestion that early recommencement, within 7-14 days, may be beneficial but higher quality studies with more consistent data are urgently required.