I need some first aid advice for someone who takes Warfarin

Question

Can anyone advise me on the first aid or signs and symptons to look out for if someone on Warfarin bangs their head hard enough to produce a lump? My friend has been advised that if she cuts herself and the wound is still bleeding after 10 minutes she has to go to the hospital for Vitamin K injection, but no one has told her what to do for a bang on the head. We have been told that inter cranial bleeding caused by such an injury can be dangerous, but no one has explained why or what signs or symptoms to look for.

Answer 1

You need to phone A&E right now for advice. Hope everything is okay. ((hugs)).

Answer 2

If there was intracranial swelling caused by a haemorrage of epi-dural vessels inside the skull there would be no signs of swelling as they would be hidden by the skull.

If there was an intracranial haemorrage caused by a bump the patient would experience headaches then possible impairment of vision and then unconsciousness.

Im guessing this swilling is superficial.

Answer 3

OK, Warfarin thins the blood, so any sort of injury to any of the blood veins or even capillaries can allow more blood to leak out than would if the blood was thicker. The blood also does not clot as quickly.

So- if she is cut, she will bleed more. If she is hurt internally, she will bleed more inside- which can be a big problem in the skull since the bleeding will press on the brain since there is no where else for it to go. Pressure on the brain like this can cause strokes and a lot of other problems.

Remember- many of the problems that result from any brain injury happen when the brain swells and gets pressure on it.

Symptoms can be somewhat confusing since it will all depend on exactly what happened, and where the pressure is, but look for...

- unusual blood like in the eyes, ears, nose, etc.

- confusion, dizziness, disorientation, slurred speech

- lack of coordination, unexplained weakness, unusual numbness or tingling anywhere

- slurred speech, blurred vision, noises in the ears, etc.

- sudden headache or unexplained pains

Do not wait once symptoms show up- call 911 so they can begin treatment in the ambulance and get her prepped for the ER- she will get in faster that way than if you drive her.

Answer 4

The best thing you can do is phone the casualty department or NHS direct to get advice. My grandmother is on warfarin and we have never been told what to do if she bangs her head either.

Answer 5

If you are concerned at all, err on the side of caution and call her doctor's service to let them decide if she is at moderate risk for a bleed.  Obvious signs of significant head trauma are headache, seizure, nausea and vomiting, disorientation or altered state of consciousness, paralysis on one side, problems with her speech, no memory of the incident that caused the head trauma and of course, obvious skull wound.  The intercranial bleeding you mentioned may not be immediately obvious in an anticoagulated patient (taking warfarin, aspirin, etc), and a slow bleed may not present with symptoms for several days or be immediately evident on a scan.  Despite the information you gain on this site, it is not an alternative to speaking with her physician and allowing him/her to decide if she requires emergency evaluation.  I hope she feels better.