Association of Scapular Fractures and Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury: Fact or Fiction?

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos V.R. Brown ◽  
George Velmahos ◽  
Dennis Wang ◽  
Susan Kennedy ◽  
Demetrios Demetriades ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Blunt Trauma ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Associated Injuries ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Scapular Fractures ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Level I

It is classically taught that scapular fractures (SF) are commonly associated with blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI). The purpose of this study was to determine the association between SF and BTAI. A 10-year retrospective review of blunt trauma admissions from two level I trauma centers located in different geographic regions, Washington Hospital Center (WHC) and Los Angeles County Medical Center and the University of Southern California (LAC/USC), was performed. Patients with SF and BTAI were identified, and records were reviewed to determine associated injuries. We identified 35,541 blunt trauma admissions (WHC: 12,971, LAC/USC: 22,570). SF and BTAI occurred in 1.1 per cent and 0.6 per cent of patients, respectively. Most of the patients with SF had associated injuries (99%). Only four patients with SF had BTAI (4/392; 1.0%). The most common injuries associated with SF were rib (43%), lower extremity (36%), and upper extremity (33%) fractures. SF is uncommon after blunt trauma. Patients with SF almost always have significant associated injuries. Although SF indicates a high amount of energy transmitted to the upper thorax, these patients rarely have BTAI. SF should not be used as an indicator of possible BTAI.

The Impact of In-house Attending Surgeon Supervision on the Rates of Preventable and Potentially Preventable Complications and Death at the Start of the New Academic Year

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 1134-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenji Inaba ◽  
Adam Hauch ◽  
Bernardino C. Branco ◽  
Stephen Cohn ◽  
Pedro G. R. Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Trauma Center ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
University Of Southern California ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level I ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Year

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of in-house attending surgeon supervision on the rate of preventable deaths (PD) and complications (PC) at the beginning of the academic year. All trauma patients admitted to the Los Angeles County 1 University of Southern California Medical Center over an 8-year period ending in December 2009 were reviewed. Morbidity and mortality reports were used to extract all PD/PC. Patients admitted in the first 2 months (July/ August) of the academic year were compared with those admitted at the end of the year (May/June) for two distinct time periods: 2002 to 2006 (before in-house attending surgeon supervision) and 2007 to 2009 (after 24-hour/day in-house attending surgeon supervision). During 2002 to 2006, patients admitted at the beginning of the year had significantly higher rates of PC (1.1% for July/ August vs 0.6% for May/June; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 3.2; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality (6.5% for July/August vs 4.6% for May/ June; adjusted OR, 1.1; 95% CI,0.8 to 1.5; P = 0.179). During 2007 to 2009, after institution of 24-hour/day in-house attending surgeon supervision of fellows and housestaff, there was no significant difference in the rates of PC (0.7% for July/August vs 0.6% for May/June; OR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.3; P = 0.870) or PD (4.6% for July/August vs 3.7% for May/June; OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9 to 1.7; P = 0.250) seen at the beginning of the academic year. At an academic Level I trauma center, the institution of 24-hour/day in-house attending surgeon supervision significantly reduced the spike of preventable complications previously seen at the beginning of the academic year.

Posttraumatic Resuscitation Affects Stent Graft Sizing in Patients with Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan R. H. Hoffman ◽  
Ritam Chowdhury ◽  
Laura S. Johnson ◽  
Luke P. Brewster ◽  
Yazan Duwayri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stent Graft ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Aortic Diameter ◽  
Related Complication ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Level I

Patients with blunt aortic injury often present to the emergency department in a relatively hypovolemic state. These patients undergo extensive inhospital resuscitation. The effect of posttraumatic resuscitation on aortic diameter has implications for stent graft sizing. The potential utility of repeat aortic imaging after resuscitation remains unclear. A retrospective chart review of all adult patients presenting to a Level I trauma center between the years 2007 and 2013 was performed. Fifty-three patients were identified with a diagnosis of traumatic aortic injury. Of those, 10 had 2 CT scans before aortic repair and were selected as the study population for analysis. After resuscitation, there was a significant increase in aortic diameter both proximal and distal to the aortic injury: proximal aortic diameter increase of 1.97 mm and distal aortic diameter increase of 1.48 mm. This retrospective study shows that after resuscitation, there is a significant increase in proximal and distal aortic diameter. Interval reimaging of the thoracic aorta may be beneficial after adequate stabilization of the patient's other injuries. In certain cases, more appropriate sizing may prevent a device-related complication.

Outcome of Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury in a Level I Trauma Center

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 844-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. James Frick ◽  
Mark D. Cipolle ◽  
Michael D. Pasquale ◽  
Thomas E. Wasser ◽  
Michael Rhodes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trauma Center ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Level I

Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (10) ◽  
pp. 1033-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Benjamin ◽  
Areti Tillou ◽  
Jonathan R. Hiatt ◽  
H. Gill Cryer
Keyword(s):  
Injury Severity ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Operative Repair ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Pelvic Embolization ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Level I

Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BAI) is a rare but often fatal injury that occurs with severe polytrauma. Immediate diagnosis and treatment of BAI are essential for a successful outcome. We reviewed our experience with 20 patients with BAI treated at a Level I trauma center between 1995 and 2006. The mean Injury Severity Score was 38 ± 14 and 14 patients had an abnormal Glasgow Coma Score; associated injuries included abdomen in 13 patients, extremity in 12, and head in six. Chest x-ray (CXR) findings were suggestive of aortic injury in 15 patients, equivocal in three, and showed no evidence of aortic injury in two. Diagnosis was made by CT angiography (CTA) in 17 patients, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in two, and formal angiography in one. Sixteen patients underwent operative repair of BAI. Of these, eight also underwent laparotomy, six had operative repair of extremity fractures, and three had pelvic embolization. Five patients died, three of whom were treated nonoperatively, and length of hospitalization in survivors was 32 ± 20 days. BAI is rare and often associated with multiple life-threatening injuries complicating diagnosis and treatment. Our data support the aggressive use of CTA even when classic CXR findings are not present. When CT must be delayed for abdominal exploration, intraoperative TEE is useful.

CT Chest with IV Contrast Compared with CT Angiography after Blunt Trauma

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea A. Zaw ◽  
Donovan Stewart ◽  
Jason S. Murry ◽  
David M. Hoang ◽  
Beatrice Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blunt Trauma ◽  
Chest Trauma ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Initial Evaluation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Intravenous Contrast ◽  
Whole Body Ct ◽  
Level I

Blunt aortic injury (BAI) after chest trauma is a potentially lethal condition. Rapid diagnosis is important to appropriately treat patients. The purpose of this study was to compare CT with intravenous contrast (CTI) to CT with angiography (CTA) in the initial evaluation of blunt chest trauma patients. This was a retrospective review of all blunt trauma patients who received a CTI or CTA during the initial evaluation at an urban Level I trauma center from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. Two-hundred and eighty-one trauma patients met inclusion criteria. Most, 167/281 (59%) received CTI and 114/281 (41%) received CTA. There were no differences between cohorts in age, gender, initial heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and Glasgow Coma Scale in emergency department. Mortality rates were similar for CTI and CTA (4% vs 8%, P = 0.20). CTI identified an injury in 54 per cent compared with 46 per cent in CTA ( P = 0.05). Overall, 2 per cent of patients had BAI with similar rates in CTI and CTA (2% vs 2%, P = 0.80). BAI was not missed using either CTI or CTA. Trauma patients studied with CTI had similar diagnostic findings as CTA. CTI may be preferable to CTA during the initial assessment for possible BAI because of a single contrast injection for whole body CT.

scholarly journals Blunt Cardiac Injury in Trauma Patients with Thoracic Aortic Injury

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rathachai Kaewlai ◽  
Marc A. de Moya ◽  
Antonio Santos ◽  
Ashwin V. Asrani ◽  
Laura L. Avery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Serum Creatine Kinase ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Blunt Cardiac Injury ◽  
Creatine Kinase Mb ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Level I

Trauma patients with thoracic aortic injury (TAI) suffer blunt cardiac injury (BCI) at variable frequencies. This investigation aimed to determine the frequency of BCI in trauma patients with TAI and compare with those without TAI. All trauma patients with TAI who had admission electrocardiography (ECG) and serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) from January 1999 to May 2009 were included as a study group at a level I trauma center. BCI was diagnosed if there was a positive ECG with either an elevated CK-MB or abnormal echocardiography. There were 26 patients (19 men, mean age 45.1 years, mean ISS 34.4) in the study group; 20 had evidence of BCI. Of 52 patients in the control group (38 men, mean age 46.9 years, mean ISS 38.7), eighteen had evidence of BCI. There was a significantly higher rate of BCI in trauma patients with TAI versus those without TAI (77% versus 35%,P<0.001).

Angiographic Description of Blunt Traumatic Injuries to the Thoracic Aorta with Specific Relevance to Endograft Repair

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. II-84-II-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Borsa ◽  
Eric K. Hoffer ◽  
Ryad Karmy-Jones ◽  
Arthur B. Fontaine ◽  
Robert D. Bloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subclavian Artery ◽  
Left Subclavian Artery ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Radius Of Curvature ◽  
Anatomical Location ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Traumatic Injuries ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
The Mean

Purpose: To describe the precise anatomical location and extent of injury (based on angiography) in a series of patients with blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) and evaluate the findings relative to the potential for endograft repair. Methods: Thoracic aortograms from 50 trauma patients (37 men; mean age 37 years, range 13–87) with BTAI were retrospectively reviewed. Parameters important for endograft repair were recorded, including the length of the pseudoaneurysm, the distance between the origin of the most distal arch vessel and the pseudoaneurysm, the diameter of the aorta both above and below the pseudoaneurysm, and finally, the curvature of the aorta in the vicinity of the pseudoaneurysm. Results: The mean distance from the left subclavian artery to the superior aspect of the injury measured 5.8 mm along the lesser curve and 14.9 mm along the greater curve. The mean length of the injury was 17.0 mm and 26.0 mm along the lesser and greater curves, respectively. The mean aortic diameter adjacent to the injury measured 19.3 mm. The mean degree of curvature of the aorta over the length of the injury was 27.2°, with a mean radius of curvature of 32.6 mm at the superior aspect of the injury and 39.3 mm inferiorly. Conclusions: In most cases of BTAI, the location of the injury will necessitate covering the origin of the left subclavian artery if endovascular repair is to be performed. The curvature of the aorta in the region predisposed to these injuries requires that the endograft be very flexible and/or precurved.

scholarly journals Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injury: 10-Year Single-Center Experience

Aorta ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Can Topcu ◽  
Kamile Ozeren-Topcu ◽  
Ahmet Bolukcu ◽  
Sinan Sahin ◽  
Avni U. Seyhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thoracic Aorta ◽  
Subclavian Artery ◽  
Open Repair ◽  
Left Subclavian Artery ◽  
Aortic Injury ◽  
Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Primary Treatment Modality ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Injury

Abstract Objective In blunt trauma patients, injury of the thoracic aorta is the second most common cause of death after head injury. In recent years, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has largely replaced open repair as the primary treatment modality, and delayed repair of stable aortic injuries has been shown to improve mortality. In light of these major advancements, we present a 10-year institutional experience from a tertiary cardiovascular surgery center. Methods Records of patients who underwent endovascular or open repair of the ascending, arch or descending thoracic aorta between January 2009 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients without blunt traumatic etiology were excluded. Perioperative data were retrospectively collected from patient charts. Long-term follow-up was performed via data from follow-up visits and phone calls. Results A total of 1,667 patients underwent 1,740 thoracic aortic procedures (172 TEVAR and 1,568 open repair). There were 13 patients (12 males) with a diagnosis of blunt thoracic aortic injury. Mean patient age was 43.6 years (range, 16–80 years). Ten (77%) patients underwent TEVAR, two (15.4%) underwent open repair, and one (7.7%) was treated nonoperatively. Procedure-related stroke was observed in one (7.7%) case. Procedure-related paraplegia did not occur in any patients. Left subclavian artery origin was covered in seven patients. None developed arm ischemia. Hospital survivors were followed-up for an average of 60.2 months (range, 4–115 months) without any late mortality, endoleak, stent migration, arm ischemia, or reintervention. Conclusion Blunt thoracic aortic injury is a rare but highly fatal condition. TEVAR offers good early and midterm results. Left subclavian artery coverage can be performed without major complications.

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