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This study investigated the clinical outcomes of trauma patients with blunt thoracic aortic injuries at a single institution.
During the study period, 9,501 patients with traumatic aortic injuries presented to Trauma Center of Gil Medical Center. Among them, 1,594 patients had severe trauma, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of >15. Demographics, physiological data, injury mechanism, hemodynamic parameters associated with the thoracic injury according to chest computed tomography (CT) findings, the timing of the intervention, and clinical outcomes were reviewed.
Twenty-eight patients had blunt aortic injuries (75% male, mean age, 45.9±16.3 years). The majority (82.1%, n=23/28) of these patients were involved in traffic accidents. The median ISS was 35.0 (interquartile range 21.0–41.0). The injuries were found in the ascending aorta (n=1, 3.6%) aortic arch (n=8, 28.6%) aortic isthmus (n=18, 64.3%), and descending aorta (n=1, 3.6%). The severity of aortic injuries on chest CT was categorized as intramural hematoma (n=1, 3.6%), dissection (n=3, 10.7%), transection (n=9, 32.2%), pseudoaneurysm (n=12, 42.8%), and rupture (n=3, 10.7%). Endovascular repair was performed in 71.4% of patients (45% within 24 hours), and two patients received surgical management. The mortality rate was 25% (n=7).
Traumatic thoracic aortic injuries are life-threatening. In our experience, however, if there is no rupture and extravasation from an aortic injury, resuscitation and stabilization of vital signs are more important than an intervention for an aortic injury in patients with multiple traumas. Further study is required to optimize the timing of the intervention and explore management strategies for blunt thoracic aortic injuries in severe trauma patients needing resuscitation.
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This retrospective multicenter study analyzed trauma patients who underwent resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in the Republic of Korea.
This study was conducted from February 2017 to May 2018 at three regional trauma centers in the Republic of Korea. The patients were divided into two groups (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] and No-CPR) for comparative analysis based on two criteria (complication and mortality) for logistic regression analysis (LRA).
There were significant differences between the CPR and No-CPR groups in mortality (
This study was conducted in the early stages of REBOA implementation in the Republic of Korea and showed conflicting results from studies conducted by multiple institutions. Therefore, additional research with more accumulated data is needed.
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Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is an emergency procedure and extremely time-dependent, and the proficiency of the physician is important. Due to a lack of REBOA education programs in Republic of Korea, few physicians have been trained in the procedure. In this study, we examined how REBOA education affects clinical outcomes in a single center.
A retrospective study conducted from February 2017 to June 2020 at a regional trauma center. We collected data of patients who underwent REBOA and analyzed the factors that influenced the outcome. The patients were divided into the educated and non-educated groups (based on REBOA training received by their physicians), and the success and failure groups.
A total of 24 patients underwent REBOA during the study. There were eight patients in the success group and 16 patients in the failure group. There are no significant differences between the educated and non-educated groups in sex, age, ISS, shock, injury-to-REBOA time, injury mechanism, injury sites, arrest, access site, type of catheter, type of REBOA, target Zone, mortality, and the result of REBOA. The non-educated group had a higher risk for failure compared to the educated group in multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 154.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-22.60).
Failure in REBOA is harmful to patients. The risk of failure is increased in the non-educated group. Physicians working in the trauma center or emergency department need to complete the REBOA education program.
Citations
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) has been accepted as an adjunct procedure for non-compressible torso hemorrhage in patients with hemorrhagic shock. With appropriate indications, REBOA should be performed for resuscitation regardless of the physician’s specialty. Despite its effectiveness in traumatized patients with hemorrhagic shock, performing REBOA has been challenging due to physicians’ lack of experience. Even though training in endovascular skills is mandatory, many physicians cannot undergo sufficient training because of the limited number of endovascular simulation programs. Herein, we share simulation video clips, including those of a vascular circuit model for simulation; sheath preparation; long guidewire and balloon catheter preparation; ultrasound-guided arterial access; sheath insertion or upsizing; and balloon positioning, inflation, and migration. The aim of this study was to provide educational video clips to improve physicians’ endovascular skills for REBOA.
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Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is considered an emerging adjunct therapy for profound hemorrhagic shock, as it can maintain temporary stability until definitive repair of the injury. However, there is limited information about the use of this procedure in children. Herein, we report a case of REBOA in a pediatric patient with blunt trauma, wherein the preoperative deployment of REBOA played a pivotal role in damage control resuscitation. A 7-year-old male patient experienced cardiac arrest after a motor vehicle accident. After 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, spontaneous circulation was achieved. The patient was diagnosed with massive hemoperitoneum. REBOA was then performed under ongoing resuscitative measures. An intra-aortic balloon catheter was deployed above the supraceliac aorta, which helped achieved permissive hypotension while the patient was undergoing surgery. After successful bleeding control with small bowel resection for mesenteric avulsion, thorough radiologic evaluations revealed hypoxic brain injury. The patient died from deterioration of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Although the patient did not survive, a postoperative computed tomography scan revealed neither remaining intraperitoneal injury nor peripheral ischemia correlated with the insertion of a 7-Fr sheath. Hence, REBOA can be a successful bridge therapy, and this result may facilitate the further usage of REBOA to save pediatric patients with non-compressible torso hemorrhage.
Traumatic blunt aortic injury especially on proximal ascending aorta is a rare injury with a few reports. Generally emergency surgical management was performed. In this case, however, in multiple trauma with brain injury, emergency surgical management of aortic injury might result in unexpected secondary injury of the brain. Herein, we report a case of a 33-year-old man who was driving a truck was injured in a head-on collision. Evaluation revealed a pseudoaneurysm on his ascending aorta concomitant with epidural hemorrhage. He was treated by surgical management of his ascending aorta after 3 days from accident. There were no postoperative and neurologic complications and the patient was discharged after 18 days.
Ascending aortic injury after blunt chest trauma is an emergency condition that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. The authors report the case of a patient with traumatic ascending aortic injury who received ascending aorta replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass after failure of primary repair.
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