Trauma ICU Rounds – Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury (BCVI)

Originally posted on Trauma ICU Rounds on December 17, 2020 – Visit to listen to accompanying podcast. Follow Trauma ICU Rounds (@traumaicurounds) and Dr. Kim (@dennisyongkim) to learn more on simplifying trauma critical care together.


Dr.  Walt Biffl from Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla joins us on Rounds to discuss the evolution of BCVI management from the early 1990s to present day. Topics discussed include screening criteria, the diagnostic approach and imaging modalities for accurately identifying these injuries in our blunt polytrauma pateints. Grading criteria, antithrombotic therapies, and the use of endovascular stents round out this informative discussion with one of the world’s leading experts on the topic.

Check out the Show Notes at www.traumaicurounds.com

Also, you can find the updated 2020 EAST BCVI PMG here:
https://www.east.org/education/practice-management-guidelines/blunt-cerebrovascular-injury-evaluation-and-management-of

Learning Objectives

By the end of Rounds, you should be able to:

1. Discuss risk factors for BCVI on the basis of mechanism, associated injuries, and clinical exam findings.

2. Describe the complications associated with undiagnosed and untreated BCVI.

3. Understand the importance of early institution of antithrombotic therapy.

4. Describe key considerations for follow-up imaging and ongoing therapy post-discharge.

Take-Home Points

  • BCVI are much more common than originally described; the more you look, the more you find!

  • In general, it’s better to have a high-index of suspicion and low threshold to screen for BCVI

  • Universal screening of blunt polytrauma patients using high-resolution CT is an attractive option for patients already deemed to require a contrast-enhanced CT

  • In patients with competing injuries that could be worsened with the start of antithromobtic therapy (i.e., TBI, solid organ or spine injuries) EARLY multidisciplinary consultation regarding risks and benefits are paramount to optimal patient outcomes

Time Stamps

  • 00:12 Introduction

  • 2:37 “Right place, right time”; launching one’s academic career

  • 4:56 The unrecognized epidemic of blunt carotid arterial injuries

  • 5:30 Memphis & Denver Screening Criteria

  • 06:05 Screening arteriography

  • 07:00 What are the high-risk criteria?

  • 08:38 From 4-vessel angiography to CTA

  • 09:34 Making the case for universal screening

  • 10:50 Expanded screening criteria

  • 11:32 Mechanism & pathophysiology

  • 13:40 Do all neck seatbelt signs require CTA?

  • 15:42 Time to stroke

  • 16:42 Diagnostic modalities – the role (or lack thereof) for Duplex and MRA

  • 18:10 CT angiography – the new gold standard

  • 19:59 BCVI in the pediatric population

  • 22:08 BCVI Injury Grading Scale

  • 25:48 Operative intervention for BCVI, few and far between

  • 27:14 Antithrombotic therapy: decisions, decisions, decisions

  • 29:44 Loading the boat

  • 33:24 Dual antiplatelet therapy

  • 34:40 Follow-up imaging: who, when, now what??

  • 36:24 Management of BCVI patients with concurrent TBI, solid organ and spine injuries

  • 38:50 Endovascular stents

  • 43:07 Future research directions for BCVI

  • 44:40 Duration of therapy

  • 46:30 Key take-home points

  • 47:26 Outro

Recommended Readings & Resources

Journal Articles

Biffl WL, Moore EE, Ryu RK, Offner PJ, Novak Z, Coldwell DM, Franciose RJ, Burch JM. The unrecognized epidemic of blunt carotid arterial injuries: early diagnosis improves neurologic outcome. Ann Surg. 1998 Oct;228(4):462-70. doi: 10.1097/00000658-199810000-00003. PMID: 9790336; PMCID: PMC1191517.

Biffl WL, Moore EE, Offner PJ, Brega KE, Franciose RJ, Burch JM. Blunt carotid arterial injuries: implications of a new grading scale. J Trauma. 1999 Nov;47(5):845-53. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199911000-00004. PMID: 10568710.

Biffl WL, Ray CE Jr, Moore EE, Franciose RJ, Aly S, Heyrosa MG, Johnson JL, Burch JM. Treatment-related outcomes from blunt cerebrovascular injuries: importance of routine follow-up arteriography. Ann Surg. 2002 May;235(5):699-706; discussion 706-7. doi: 10.1097/00000658-200205000-00012. PMID: 11981216; PMCID: PMC1422496.

Biffl WL, Moore EE, Elliott JP, Ray C, Offner PJ, Franciose RJ, Brega KE, Burch JM. The devastating potential of blunt vertebral arterial injuries. Ann Surg. 2000 May;231(5):672-81. doi: 10.1097/00000658-200005000-00007. PMID: 10767788; PMCID: PMC1421054.

Burlew CC, Biffl WL, Moore EE, Pieracci FM, Beauchamp KM, Stovall R, Wagenaar AE, Jurkovich GJ. Endovascular stenting is rarely necessary for the management of blunt cerebrovascular injuries. J Am Coll Surg. 2014 May;218(5):1012-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.01.042. Epub 2014 Feb 3. PMID: 24661857.

Cothren CC, Biffl WL, Moore EE, Kashuk JL, Johnson JL. Treatment for blunt cerebrovascular injuries: equivalence of anticoagulation and antiplatelet agents. Arch Surg. 2009 Jul;144(7):685-90. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.2009.111. PMID: 19620551.

Cothren CC, Moore EE, Ray CE Jr, Ciesla DJ, Johnson JL, Moore JB, Burch JM. Carotid artery stents for blunt cerebrovascular injury: risks exceed benefits. Arch Surg. 2005 May;140(5):480-5; discussion 485-6. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.140.5.480. PMID: 15897444.

Cothren CC, Moore EE, Ray CE Jr, Johnson JL, Moore JB, Burch JM. Cervical spine fracture patterns mandating screening to rule out blunt cerebrovascular injury. Surgery. 2007 Jan;141(1):76-82. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2006.04.005. Epub 2006 Aug 28. PMID: 17188170.

Miller PR, Fabian TC, Croce MA, Cagiannos C, Williams JS, Vang M, Qaisi WG, Felker RE, Timmons SD. Prospective screening for blunt cerebrovascular injuries: analysis of diagnostic modalities and outcomes. Ann Surg. 2002 Sep;236(3):386-93; discussion 393-5. doi: 10.1097/01.SLA.0000027174.01008.A0. PMID: 12192325; PMCID: PMC1422592.

Geddes AE, Burlew CC, Wagenaar AE, Biffl WL, Johnson JL, Pieracci FM, Campion EM, Moore EE. Expanded screening criteria for blunt cerebrovascular injury: a bigger impact than anticipated. Am J Surg. 2016 Dec;212(6):1167-1174. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.09.016. Epub 2016 Sep 29. PMID: 27751528.

Fabian TC. Blunt cerebrovascular injuries: anatomic and pathologic heterogeneity create management enigmas. J Am Coll Surg. 2013 May;216(5):873-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2012.12.053. Epub 2013 Mar 18. PMID: 23518252.

Fabian TC, George SM Jr, Croce MA, Mangiante EC, Voeller GR, Kudsk KA. Carotid artery trauma: management based on mechanism of injury. J Trauma. 1990 Aug;30(8):953-61; discussion 961-3. doi: 10.1097/00005373-199008000-00003. PMID: 2388306.

Fabian TC, Patton JH Jr, Croce MA, Minard G, Kudsk KA, Pritchard FE. Blunt carotid injury. Importance of early diagnosis and anticoagulant therapy. Ann Surg. 1996 May;223(5):513-22; discussion 522-5. doi: 10.1097/00000658-199605000-00007. PMID: 8651742; PMCID: PMC1235173.

Practice Management Guidelines & Algorithms

EAST PMG

Click to access east_visual_abstract_final.pdf

https://www.east.org/education/practice-management-guidelines/blunt-cerebrovascular-injury-evaluation-and-management-of

WTA Critical Decisions in Trauma

Click to access Western_Trauma_Association-Screening-for-and-Treatment-of-Blunt-Cerebrovascular-Injuries-jtrauma-2009.pdf

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