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Normal CT safely rules out delayed bleed on anticoagulants

No delayed intracranial hemorrhage in head injury patients on oral anticoagulants and with normal CT: a retrospective study of 215 patients
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine · Added 1 May 2026

Retrospective review tested whether immediate discharge after normal CT was safe for anticoagulated head-injury patients with GCS 14-15 — no delayed intracranial haemorrhage, neurosurgical intervention, or clinically significant deterioration occurred.

Study type

Cohort

Design

Retrospective single-centre review

Participants

215 anticoagulated head injury patients with normal head CT (median age 83)

Main finding

Zero delayed intracranial haemorrhages; no neurosurgical interventions or clinically significant deterioration due to delayed haemorrhage during observation or follow-up

Caveat

Retrospective single-centre study with limited follow-up; small sample cannot exclude rare events

Bottom line

Hypothesis-generating

Learning goal

Weigh the risks of delayed intracranial haemorrhage in anticoagulated head injury patients with normal CT.

More

• Topic: Trauma
• Daily scan: 1 May 2026

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