The unrecognized epidemic of blunt carotid arterial injuries - Early diagnosis improves neurologic outcome

Objective To determine the benefit of screening for blunt carotid arterial injuries (BCl) in patients who are asymptomatic. Summary Background Data Blunt carotid arterial injuries have the potential for devastating complications, Published studies report 23% to 28% mortality rates, with 48% to 58% of survivors having permanent severe neurologic deficits. Most patients have neurologic deficits when the injury is diagnosed. The authors hypothesized that screening patients who are asymptomatic and instituting early therapy would improve neurologic outcome. Methods The Trauma Registry of the author's Level I Trauma Center identified patients with BCl from 1990 through 1997; Beginning in August 1996, the authors implemented a screening for BCl, Arteriography was used for diagnosis, Patients without specific contraindications were anticoagulated. Endovascular stents were deployed in the setting of pseudoaneurysms. Results Thirty-seven patients with BCl were identified among 15,331 blunt-trauma victims (0.24%). During the screening period, 25 patients were diagnosed with BCl among 2902 admissions (0.86%); 13 (52%) were asymptomatic. Overall, eight patients died, and seven of the survivors had permanent severe neurologic deficits. Excluding those dying of massive brain injury and patients admitted with coma and brain injury, mortality associated with BCl was 15%, with severe neurologic morbidity in 16% of survivors. The patients who were asymptomatic at diagnosis had a better neurologic outcome than those who were symptomatic. Symptomatic patients who were anticoagulated showed a trend toward greater neurologic improvement at the time of discharge than those who were not anticoagulated, Conclusions Screening allows the identification of asymptomatic BCl and thereby facilitates early systemic anticoagulation; which is associated with improved neurologic outcome, The role of endovascular stents in the treatment of blunt traumatic pseudoaneurysms remains to be defined.