Utility of Screening for Blunt Vascular Neck Injuries with Computed Tomographic Angiography.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006;
60:209-15; discussion 215-6. [PMID:
16456458 DOI:
10.1097/01.ta.0000195651.60080.2c]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To prospectively study the impact of implementing a computed tomographic angiography (CTA)-based screening protocol on the detected incidence and associated morbidity and mortality of blunt vascular neck injury (BVNI).
METHODS
Consecutive blunt trauma patients admitted to a single tertiary trauma center and identified as at risk for BVNI underwent admission CTA using an eight-slice multi-detector computed tomography scanner. The detected incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates of BVNI were compared with those measured before CTA screening. A logistic regression model was also applied to further evaluate potential risk factors for BVNI.
RESULTS
A total of 1,313 blunt trauma patients were evaluated. One hundred seventy screening CTAs were performed, of which 33 disclosed abnormalities. Twenty-three were evaluated angiographically, of which 15 were considered to have significant BVNIs, as were 4 of the 10 patients with abnormal CTAs and no angiogram. The incidence of angiographically proven BVNIs in our series was 1.1%. If four patients who were treated for BVNIs based on CTA alone are included, the incidence rises to 1.4%. This is significantly higher than the 0.17% incidence before screening (p < 0.001). In addition, the delayed stroke rate and injury-specific mortality fell significantly from 67% to 0% (p < 0.001) and 38% to 0% (p = 0.002), respectively. Overall mortality also fell significantly, from 38% to 10.5% (p = 0.049). Univariate logistic regression identified the presence of cervical spine injury as a significant predictor of BVNI (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
CTA screening increases the detected incidence of BVNI 8-fold, with rates similar to angiographically based screening protocols. CTA screening significantly decreases BVNI-related morbidity and mortality in an efficient manner, underlying its utility in the early diagnosis of this injury.
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