Traumatic Brain Injury during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemics in Slovenia: A Single Center Study

Abstract

(1) Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic had a significant impact on the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of TBI patients before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.; (2) Methods: We analyzed depicted data from existing medical records on sex, age, mechanism of injury, clinical performance at admission and discharge, neuroimaging, laboratory values at admission, mortality, duration of hospitalization, and referrals after discharge from the traumatology department for all adult patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and a year before. Variables were compared using the Chi-square or t-test between both groups.; (3) Results: Most patients had mild (n = 477), followed by moderate (11) and severe (11) TBI. Mild TBI was less frequent during the SARS-CoV-2 period (n = 174 vs. n = 303). The incidence of high falls increased during the SARS-CoV-2 period (14.5% vs. 24.7%; p < 0.05) in the group with mild TBI. Patients had similar mean Glasgow Coma Scales (GCS), Glasgow Outcome Scales-Extended (GOSE), and glucose levels at admission before and during the pandemic. Serum ethanol levels were significantly lower during the SARS-CoV-2 period (1.3 ± 0.7 mmol/L vs. 0.7 ± 1.2 mmol/L; p < 0.001). At discharge, the mean GCS was significantly lower (14.7 ± 1.8 vs. 14.1 ± 0.5; p < 0.05) for patients treated during the SARS-CoV-2 period than before the SARS-CoV-2 period. There were no differences in GOSE; (4) Conclusions: our results demonstrated a significant impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the frequency, mechanism, and consequences of TBI, and may help improve care for our patients.

Outcome of early rehabilitation of patients with traumatic brain injury during COVID-19 pandemic in The Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…Due to the exponential admission to hospitals and intensive care units, it was necessary to redistribute staff, and to change the usual working practices. Due to the maximum occupancy of the intensive care units (ICU) and the increased need for mechanical ventilation, the operating theaters were converted into improvised intensive care units ( 13 ). To date, it remains unclear to what extent the pandemic and the measures implemented have affected the treatment and outcome of patients suffering from brain injury, especially due to the fact that moderate and severe brain injuries require hospitalization in ICU.…”