Coagulopathy (Bleeding Tendency)

Altered hemostasis with a subsequent hemorrhagic diathesis is common following traumatic brain injury (TBI), and progressive intracranial bleeding is among the leading causes of preventable death following TBI. Moreover, as patients suffering from TBI are getting older, the number of TBI patients on anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication is increasing with a further increased risk for hemorrhagic progression. Thromboembolic complications are also common following TBI, with extensive thromboembolic complications occurring in 6–13% of patients after TBI. Hemorrhagic progression and thromboembolic complications occur even when conventional coagulation measurements are normal, which had led to the introduction of complementary functional tests. Still, new biomarkers and laboratory tests are needed to enable us to follow the temporal course and support future preventive measures and targeted therapies.