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Journal Article

Citation

Crawford JD, Allan KM, Patel KU, Hart KD, Schreiber MA, Azarbal AF, Liem TK, Mitchell EL, Moneta GL, Landry GJ. JAMA Surg. 2015; 150(9): 841-847.

Affiliation

Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jamasurg.2015.1692

PMID

26200995

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: The Denver criteria grade blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs) but fail to capture many patients with indeterminate findings on initial imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcomes and clinical significance of indeterminate BCVIs (iBCVIs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of all patients treated for BCVIs at our institution from January 1, 2007, through July 31, 2014, was completed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those with true BCVIs as defined by the Denver criteria and those with iBCVIs, which was any initial imaging suggestive of a cerebrovascular arterial injury not classifiable by the Denver criteria. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcomes were rate of resolution of iBCVIs, freedom from cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS: We identified 100 patients with 138 BCVIs: 79 with true BCVIs and 59 with iBCVIs. With serial imaging, 23 iBCVIs (39.0%) resolved and 21 (35.6%) remained indeterminate, whereas 15 (25.4%) progressed to true BCVI. The rate of CVA or TIA in the iBCVI group was 5.1% compared with 15.2% in the true BCVI group (P RESULTS:  = .06). Of the 15 total CVAs or TIAs, 11 (73.3%) resulted from carotid injury and 4 (26.7%) from vertebral artery occlusion (P = .03). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, there was no difference in freedom from CVA or TIA for the 2 groups (P = .07). Median clinical follow-up was 91 days. Overall RESULTS: and 30-day mortality for the entire series were 17.4% and 15.2%, respectively. There was no difference in long-term or 30-day mortality between true BCVI and iBCVI groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Detection of iBCVI has become a common clinical conundrum with improved and routine imaging. Indeterminate BCVI is not completely benign, with 25.4% demonstrating anatomical progression to true BCVI and 5.1% developing cerebrovascular symptoms. We therefore recommend serial imaging and antiplatelet therapy for iBCVI.


Language: en

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