Evolving Patterns in Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment Among Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: Insights From a Decade of ACS Trauma Data

Highlight

• Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WOLST) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients decreased modestly between 2013 and 2023.
• The timing of WOLST was delayed over the decade, with an increase in the average time to withdrawal after admission.
• Patients who underwent WOLST were older and had more preexisting comorbidities than those who did not.
• Despite evolving trends reflecting cautious prognostication, WOLST remains a common pathway to mortality in severe TBI.

Study Background