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

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.