Assessing Geriatric Patients in the Emergency Department Using A New Trauma Protocol
The Embark Capstone Colloquium at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, May 2, 2022.
Description
Head injury is among the most common reason for presenting to the emergency department (ED), with intracranial hemorrhage being one of the most feared outcomes.1,2 The elderly population is the most predominant demographic presenting to the ED for a head injury after a fall.3 For this reason, it is not surprising that the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage increases with age.2 This is especially problematic for the elderly demographic because many elderly patients are taking blood thinning agents, and patients taking anticoagulants have a four-fivefold increased risk of death with an intracranial hemorrhage compared to those not taking anticoagulants.4,5