Treatment Of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury Research Articles

Association of craniomaxillofacial fractures and blunt cerebrovascular injuries

High energy trauma has been considered a risk factor for blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for BCVI specifically in patients with maxillofacial fractures in an urban level I trauma center. A retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥ 18 years, admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) between 2007 and 2017, was implemented. There were 23,394 patients treated and entered into the MGH Trauma Registry: 22,287 sustained blunt trauma. Of the total blunt trauma patients, 68 (0.3%) had BCVI. There were 2421 patients with CMF fractures from blunt trauma (mean ± standard deviation age, 53 ± 22 years; 29.9% female included as study subjects, of whom 24 (1.0%) had BCVI). In a multivariate model, all mandible fracture (odds ratio (OR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–11.6, P = 0.004), crush injury, defined as blunt compression injury (OR 11.1, 95% CI 2.1–58.1, P = 0.004), and cervical spine injury (OR 10.1, 95 CI 3.7–27.5, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for BCVI. Mortality was 4.3 times higher in craniomaxillofacial fracture patients with BCVI versus those without BCVI; complications of BCVI (stroke) contributed to the majority of deaths. Appropriate screening and treatment of BCVI in patients with maxillofacial fractures is important.

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury with Severe Head Injury

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (BCVI) are rare and comprises of less than 1% of total head injury in our tertiary neurocenter. This leads to significant morbidity and mortality of patient. This case report is to focus on the BCVI with head injury. Because of rarity of this disease, there’s no treatment guidelines. However whatever the treatment we have is based on the experience of the surgeons/physician our case came to our Emergency Room with alleged history of lying along the road side in pool of blood .He was evaluated in peripheral hospital and he was later transferred to our center. Patient on evaluation was found to have transaction of Right ICA just distal to right Common carotid artery bifurcation. There was associated fracture of spinous process C5, C6. Probable mechanism of injury was sudden hyperextension of neck. Patient presented with delayed stroke following BCVI. He was managed with Right Decompressive hemicraniectomy and anticoagulation therapy was started for Right ICA injury. Thus early diagnosis and treatment of Blunt Cerebrovascular injury is essential in traumatic brain injury patients with risk factors for BCVI for definitive treatment of vascular injury with either stenting or surgery and thereby limiting morbidity and mortality of the patient.

Aspirin Alone Is Superior Therapy for Grade III Blunt Carotid Injury: A Multicenter Study from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

The optimal treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) remains unclear. Antiplatelet therapy and therapeutic anticoagulation have each demonstrated substantial reductions in BCVI-associated stroke without evidence of the superiority of either. Uncertainty surrounds grade III injury, in particular, because stroke can involve both platelet activation from endothelial injury and thrombus formation within the pseudoaneurysm sac. We hypothesized that treatment of grade III blunt carotid injury (BCI) with aspirin alone would be associated with a decreased rate of subsequent stroke compared with other medical therapies.

Different strokes: differences in the characteristics and outcomes of BCVI and non-BCVI strokes in trauma patients

BackgroundAlthough strokes are rare in trauma patients, they are associated with worse functional and cognitive outcomes and decreased mobility. Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI)–related strokes and mortality have decreased, likely due...

Comparison of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injury in children

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is uncommon in the pediatric population. Among the management options is medical management consisting of antithrombotic therapy with either antiplatelets or anticoagulation. There is no consensus on whether administration of antiplatelets or anticoagulation is more appropriate for BCVI in children < 10 years of age. Our goal was to compare radiographic and clinical outcomes based on medical treatment modality for BCVI in children < 10 years. Clinical and radiographic data were collected retrospectively for children screened for BCVI with computed tomography angiography at 5 academic pediatric trauma centers. Among 651 patients evaluated with computed tomography angiography to screen for BCVI, 17 patients aged less than 10 years were diagnosed with BCVI (7 grade I, 5 grade II, 1 grade III, 4 grade IV) and received anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy for 18 total injuries: 11 intracranial carotid artery, 4 extracranial carotid artery, and 3 extracranial vertebral artery injuries. Eleven patients were treated with antiplatelets (10 aspirin, 1 clopidogrel) and 6 with anticoagulation (4 unfractionated heparin, 2 low-molecular-weight heparin, 1 transitioned from the former to the latter). There were no complications secondary to treatment. One patient who received anticoagulation died as a result of the traumatic injuries. In aggregate, children treated with antiplatelet therapy demonstrated healing on 52% of follow-up imaging studies versus 25% in the anticoagulation cohort. There were no observed differences in the rate of hemorrhagic complications between anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy for BCVI in children < 10 years, with a nonsignificantly better rate of healing on follow-up imaging in children who underwent antiplatelet therapy; however, the study cohort was small despite including patients from 5 hospitals.

Treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injuries: Anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents?

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is associated with cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). Early therapy with antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants is recommended. There are limited data comparing the effectiveness of these treatments. The aim of our study was to compare outcomes between BCVI patients who received anticoagulants versus those who received antiplatelet agents. We performed an (2011-2015) analysis of the Nationwide Readmission Database and included all adult trauma patients 18 years or older who had an isolated BCVI (other body regions Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] < 3). Head injury patients or those who developed a CVA during the index admission were excluded. Patients were stratified into anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. Propensity score matching was performed (1:1 ratio) to control for demographics, comorbidities, BCVI grade, distribution, and severity of injuries. Outcomes were readmission with CVA and mortality within 6 months. A total of 725 BCVI patients were identified. A matched cohort of 370 patients (antiplatelet agents, 185; anticoagulants, 185) was obtained. Mean age was 50 ± 15 years, neck AIS was 3 (3,4), and Injury Severity Score was 12 (9-17). The majority of the patients (69%) had high-grade BCVI (AIS ≥ 3). Overall, 3.7% were readmitted with CVA and 3% died within 6 months. Patients who received anticoagulants had a lower rate of readmission with CVA (1.8% vs. 5.72%; p = 0.03), and a lower rate of 6-month mortality (1.3% vs. 4.9%; p = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the two groups reading the median time to stroke (9 days vs. 6 days; p = 0.12). The BCVI patients on CVA prophylaxis for BCVI have a 3.7% rate of stroke after discharge. Compared with antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants are associated with lower rates of CVA in the first 6-month postdischarge. Further studies are required to identify the optimal agent to prevent CVA in this high-risk subset of trauma patients. Therapeutic, level IV.

钝性脑血管损伤的筛查及诊疗进展综述

钝性脑血管损伤的筛查及诊疗进展综述

Update on Treatment of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries

This article focuses on the recent practices and advancements in the treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI), and also to identify areas of future study. It remains clear that antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of therapy for preventing BCVI-related stroke. There is no difference in the type of antithrombotic therapy used, but it is critical that treatment be initiated as early as possible post-injury. The use of endovascular stents has declined dramatically from the previous decade, and their true utility in the treatment of these injuries remains unclear. One of the biggest challenges that remains in treating BCVI is when to initiate therapy in patients with concomitant injuries that may prevent treatment early post-injury, when treatment is in fact most critical. Antithrombotic therapy remains effective in the treatment of BCVI. The BCVI-related stroke rates reported across the literature remain stable between 5 and 10%. The treatment will most likely remain similar for the foreseeable future; however, there remain unknowns regarding the nuances of treatment that are mostly attributable to the relative rarity of the injuries.

Patency and Follow Up of Endovascular Stents in the Treatment of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury

Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is a relatively uncommon entity seen in about 2% of blunt trauma patients. The most feared sequelae of these injuries is stroke, and antithrombotic therapy is the mainstay of therapy for stroke prevention. Endovascular stents are infrequently utilized for treatment of these injuries in the modern era, and little is known regarding patency and follow up after they are placed. The objective of this study is to describe the patency rates and follow up of patients with BCVI who have been treated with endovascular stents at our institution.

The changing role of endovascular stenting for blunt cerebrovascular injuries.

Few injuries have produced as much debate with respect to management as have blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs). Without question, early anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy for these injuries. However, the role of endovascular stenting for BCVI remains controversial. Our purpose was to examine the use of endovascular stents for BCVI and outcomes and describe which injuries are being treated with stents. Patients with BCVI from 2011 to 2016 were identified and stratified by age, sex, and injury severity. Patients were then divided into two groups (previous study [PS] = 2011-2012 and current study [CS] = 2013-2016) based on a paradigm shift in BCVI diagnosis and treatment at our institution. Beginning in 2013, a multidisciplinary team assumed care of patients with BCVI from interventional radiology. Digital subtraction angiography was used to confirmatory injuries in both groups and heparin used for initial therapy. In the CS, 237 patients were diagnosed with BCVI compared with 128 patients in the PS. Both groups were clinically similar with no difference in distribution of vessels injured. Beginning in 2013, there was a significant decrease in the use of stents for these injuries. In fact, in the CS, only 21 (8.9%) patients were treated with endovascular stenting compared to 44 (34%) patients in the PS. Of patients in the CS, 14 had grade III pseudoaneurysms and seven had grade II dissections. Despite this reduction in stenting, there was no significant change in the BCVI-related stroke rate between the CS and the PS (4.2% vs. 3.9%). Anticoagulation alone is adequate therapy for the majority of BCVI. Nevertheless, there is still a role for endovascular stents in the treatment of BCVI. Their use should be reserved for enlarging carotid pseudoaneurysms and dissections with significant narrowing. The prospect of determining which injuries benefit from stent placement warrants prospective investigation. Therapuetic/care management, level IV.

Antithrombotic therapy in blunt cerebrovascular injury—Do we need more information?

Introduction Blunt cerebrovascular injury is an infrequent, but potentially devastating cause of morbidity following blunt trauma. Most recommendations regarding treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injury advocate the use of antithrombotic medications, based on biased evidence. We aim to describe the experience with blunt cerebrovascular injury at a major trauma center and to validate the benefits of antithrombotic treatment in blunt cerebrovascular injury. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all adult (&gt;16 years) patients diagnosed with blunt cerebrovascular injury at a major trauma center over a 6-year period. Outcomes were assessed and analyzed to determine neurological sequelae related specifically to blunt cerebrovascular injury. Results Blunt cerebrovascular injury had an incidence of 0.57% in our patient population and 97 patients were initially included for analysis. In subsequent analysis, 39 patients (40.2%) were deemed nonassessable and were excluded, leaving 44 treated and 14 untreated patients. There were no differences between the groups in neurological change or outcome. Three treated patients suffered hemorrhagic complications. Conclusions While there is an association between treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injury with antithrombotics and improved outcomes, selection bias influences these results. Accounting for this bias, the association is no longer demonstrable and treatment does not appear to alter the outcome.

Functional outcomes following blunt cerebrovascular injury

There has been much debate on whom to screen, how to screen, and how to treat blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI), but there has been little published on long-term functional outcomes following diagnosis and treatment of BCVI. This study was conducted to address those long-term outcomes. Patients with BCVI during a 53-month period ending June 2009 were identified. Charts were reviewed for demographics, associated injuries, treatments, strokes, and in-hospital mortality. Posthospital discharge follow-up was conducted. A structured telephone interview was performed using a functional independence measurement-functional activity measurement questionnaire consisting of 30 questions in seven categories (self-care, sphincter control, mobility, locomotion, communication, psychosocial, and cognitive). Each question was scored from 1 (requires full assistance) to 7 (fully independent). Outcomes were compared by type of BCVI, associated injuries, and stroke. Two hundred twenty-two patients with BCVI were identified. Twenty-four patients died during their initial hospitalization, and an additional 11 patient died after hospital discharge. The 68 patients who completed the interview constituted our study population. Mean follow-up was 35 months. Of a possible 210 points, the mean total score on functional independence measurement and functional activity measurement was 186, 185, and 188 for all patients, carotid artery injuries, and vertebral arteries injuries, respectively. A significant difference was seen when comparing patients with and without strokes (173 and 189, respectively). This is the first report of functional outcomes following BCVI. We found that carotid and vertebral artery injuries have similar functional outcomes. As would be expected, the development of stroke led to worse outcomes. This underscores the importance of early diagnosis and initiation of therapy. Prevention of stroke in patients with BCVI leads to near-normal functional outcomes. Epidemiologic/prognostic study, level III.

Early treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injury with concomitant hemorrhagic neurologic injury is safe and effective

Early pharmacologic treatment for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is often withheld when concomitant traumatic brain injury or cervical spinal cord injury occurs. This study examines the safety and efficacy of early treatment for patients with both BCVI and traumatic neurologic injury (TNI). Ten-year retrospective review of patients with BCVI and a TNI was performed. Stroke outcomes for those treated with pharmacologic therapy for their BCVI were compared with those not treated. In addition, the likelihood of worsening of TNI was determined for those exposed to pharmacologic therapy compared with those not exposed. Multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to analyze adjusted odds ratio for stroke risk. Seventy-seven patients were identified with BCVI + TNI. Strokes occurred in 27% patients with 3 of 21 (14%) strokes present at arrival. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups. Stroke rate was higher in the untreated group compared with treated (57% vs. 4%, p < 0.0001). On multivariate regression, treatment status was the most significant stroke predictor (adjusted odds ratio 4.4, 3.0-6.5, p < 0.0001, c-stat 0.93). There was no difference in risk of hemorrhagic deterioration of traumatic brain injury based on pharmacologic exposure versus no exposure (5% vs. 6%, p = 0.6). Likewise, no patient with spinal cord injury worsened as a result of pharmacologic exposure. Of the potentially preventable strokes, 24% (4 of 17) resulted in a stroke-related death and all four deaths occurred in the untreated group. The benefit of early treatment for BCVI markedly outweighs the risk of treatment for patients suffering concomitant BCVI and hemorrhagic neurologic injury. : III.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries

The Western Trauma Association has promulgated recommendations for the management of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) — an often occult but

Western Trauma Association Critical Decisions in Trauma: Screening for and Treatment of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries

This is a recommended management algorithm from the Western Trauma Association addressing the diagnostic evaluation and management of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) in adult patients. Because there are no published prospective randomized clinical trials that have generated class I data, the recommendations herein are based on published observational studies and expert opinion of Western Trauma Association members. The algorithm (Fig. 1) and accompanying comments represent a safe and sensible approach that could be followed at most trauma centers. We recognize that there will be patient, personnel, institutional, and situational factors that may warrant or require deviation from the recommended algorithm. We encourage institutions to use this guideline to formulate their own local protocols. The algorithm contains letters at decision points; the corresponding paragraphs in the text elaborate on the thought process and cite the pertinent literature. The annotated algorithm is intended to (a) serve as a quick bedside reference for clinicians; (b) foster more detailed patient care protocols that will allow for prospective data collection and analysis to identify best practices; and (c) generate research projects to answer specific questions concerning decision making in the management of adults with BCVI.

Treatment for Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries

We hypothesize that the 2 antithrombotic treatment regimens, systemic heparin sodium vs antiplatelet agents, are equivalent for the treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) to prevent devastating injury-related strokes. Retrospective review of a prospective database. Level I trauma center. Patients with BCVIs from January 1, 1997, to January 1, 2007. Incidence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), stratified by treatment. During the study period, 422 BCVIs were identified in 301 patients (64.8% men; mean [SEM] age, 37.0 [0.8] years; mean [SEM] injury severity score, 27.0 [0.9]). A total of 22 patients presented with neurologic ischemia, and 5 patients sustained CVAs after embolization and/or stenting of an injury. Treatment was initiated for 282 asymptomatic BCVIs (heparin, 192; aspirin, 67; aspirin and/or clopidogrel, 23); 1 patient had a CVA (0.5%). Of 107 patients with untreated, asymptomatic BCVIs, 23 (21.5%) had a CVA. For untreated patients sustaining BCVI-related CVAs, the mean (SEM) time to diagnosis was 58 (10) hours. For those who did not exhibit symptoms within 2 hours of injury, mean time to diagnosis of CVA was 75 (11) hours. Injury healing rates (heparin, 39%; aspirin, 43%; aspirin/clopidogrel, 46%) and injury progression rates (12%; 10%; 15%) were equivalent between therapeutic regimens. With an overall CVA risk of 21% and a documented latent period, comprehensive screening, early diagnosis, and institution of antithrombotic therapy for BCVI are clearly warranted. The type of treatment, heparin vs antiplatelet agents, does not appear to affect either stroke risk or injury healing rates.

Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries: Imaging with Multidetector CT Angiography

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) can cause ischemic stroke and are associated with high mortality rates. However, treatment of BCVI can prevent or limit stroke. Although digital subtraction angiography is the diagnostic standard for detecting BCVI, recent studies indicate that multidetector computed tomographic (CT) angiography may be an accurate, rapid, noninvasive diagnostic alternative. Various manifestations of BCVI at multidetector CT angiography include minimal intimal injury, raised intimal flap, dissection with intramural hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, occlusion, transection, and arteriovenous fistula. Multidetector CT angiography can be used to grade and follow up BCVIs, providing significant prognostic information and influencing management decisions. Several other injuries and injury patterns can be used to identify patients with a high likelihood of concurrent BCVI, and these patterns can be used as indications to screen for BCVI. By facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of BCVI, such screening has been shown to improve the clinical outcomes of affected patients. Familiarity with the various imaging manifestations of injury at multidetector CT angiography, as well as with the diagnostic limitations of this modality and the various clinical factors that affect its use, is necessary if it is to be used effectively to diagnose and influence the management of BCVIs.

Blunt carotid and vertebral artery injuries

The recognition and treatment of blunt cerebrovascular injuries has dramatically evolved over the past two decades. As imaging technology has improved both with respect to the image quality and acquisition times, its use has become a fundamental diagnostic tool in blunt trauma evaluation. The single greatest radiological advance in the past quarter century has been the refinement and increasing use of computed tomographic imaging for the diagnosis of surgical disease. Paralleling advances in noninvasive imaging, a heightened awareness of blunt cerebrovascular injuries has emerged, and the first screening protocols were developed at high volume trauma centres. Through aggressive screening, these injuries have increasingly been recognised before devastating neurological ischaemia and adverse neurocognitive outcomes. The mainstay of treatment for these injuries is antithrombotic therapy. However, all blunt cerebrovascular injuries require short and long-term follow-up. While the majority of injuries will resolve with medical management, a proportion will require further intervention in order to reduce the risk of subsequent stroke.