Anticoagulant use (e.g., warfarin, DOACs) is increasingly common in older adults with cardiovascular conditions, but it significantly raises the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) after head trauma. Studies show that anticoagulated patients face a fourfold to fivefold higher mortality risk from traumatic brain injuries (Pang et al., 2015). Consequently, primary care clinicians must remain vigilant when assessing head injuries in these individuals, promptly arranging CT imaging and monitoring for delayed hemorrhage (Fuller et al., 2019; Marques et al., 2019).

NICE guidelines recommend a 24-hour observation period after any head injury in anticoagulated patients, followed by repeat CT imaging if necessary (Chenoweth et al., 2018). In severe cases, clinicians should evaluate the need for anticoagulation reversal, carefully balancing bleeding risks against possible thromboembolic events (Miller et al., 2015).

Head Injury Triage Form

1. Injury Details