Annals of Surgery Open (Sep 2023)

Association of Discontinuing Preinjury Beta-Adrenergic Blockade Medications With Mortality in Severe Blunt Traumatic Brian Injury

  • Christopher J. Tignanelli, MD, MS,
  • Saman Arbabi, MD, MPH,
  • Gaby Iskander, MD,
  • Kurt Kralovich, MD,
  • John Scott, MD, MPH,
  • Naveen F. Sangji, MD, MPH,
  • Mark R. Hemmila, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1097/AS9.0000000000000324
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 3
p. e324

Abstract

Read online

Background:. Beta-adrenergic receptor blocker (BB) administration has been shown to improve survival after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, studies to date that observe a benefit did not distinguish between continuation of preinjury BB versus de novo initiation of BB. Objectives:. To determine the effect of continuation of preinjury BB and de novo initiation of BB on risk-adjusted mortality and complications for patients with TBI. Methods:. Trauma quality collaborative data (2016–2021) were analyzed. Patients were excluded with hospitalization 2 injuries in all other body regions to create a cohort of isolated TBI patients. Results:. A total of 15,153 patients treated at 35 trauma centers were available for analysis. Patients were divided into 4 cohort groupings related to preinjury BB use and postinjury receipt of BB. The odds of mortality was significantly reduced for patients with a TBI on a preinjury BB who had the medication continued in the acute setting (as compared with patients on preinjury BB who did not) (odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54–0.98; P = 0.04). Patients with a TBI who were not on preinjury BB did not benefit from de novo initiation of BB with regard to mortality (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.64–1.08; P = 0.2). In the sensitivity analysis, excluding polytrauma patients, patients on preinjury BB who had BB continued had a reduction in mortality when compared with patients in which BB was stopped following a TBI (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.47–0.91; P = 0.01). Conclusions:. Continuing BB is associated with reduced odds of mortality in patients with a TBI on preinjury BB. We were unable to demonstrate benefit from instituting beta blockade in patients who are not on a BB preinjury.