Association between electrocardiographic findings and cardiac dysfunction in adult isolated traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background: Abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) findings can be seen in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. ECG may be an inexpensive tool to identify patients at high risk for developing cardiac dysfunction after TBI. The aim of this study was to examine abnormal ECG findings after isolated TBI and their association with true cardiac dysfunction, based on echocardiogram. Patients and methods: Data from adult patients with isolated TBI between 2015 and 2017 was retrospectively examined. Inclusion criteria included the presence of a 12-lead ECG within 24 h of admission and a formal echocardiographic examination within 72 h of admission after TBI. Patients with preexisting cardiac disease were excluded. Baseline clinical characteristics, 12-lead ECG, and echocardiogram report were abstracted. Logistic regression was used to identify the relationship of specific ECG abnormalities with cardiac dysfunction. Results ECG values showed abnormalities in 11 patients ( 22.4 % ) at the first day of admission in the form of ; two patients ( 18.1 % ) had ventricular ectopics, three patients ( 27.2% ) developed supraventricular tachycardia and nine patients ( 81.8 % ) had significant ST segment elevation. Conclusion: Repolarization abnormalities (prolonged QTc and MERA), but not ischemic-like ECG changes, are associated with cardiac dysfunction after isolated TBI. 12-lead ECG may be an inexpensive screening tool to evaluate isolated TBI patients for cardiac dysfunction prior to more expensive or invasive studies