Abstract
Historically, traumatic blunt cerebrovascular injury is considered rare but associated with devastating neurological outcomes. Blunt carotid injury alone has an associated morbidity and mortality of 28% and 48%, respectively. Injury is poorly associated with clinical findings, and surgeon suspicion is usually low, making early diagnosis difficult. Often, diagnosis is made following unexpected neurological decompensation and/or death in a previously asymptomatic patient. To attempt earlier diagnosis and avoid untoward events, many institutions have undergone retrospective analyses and prospective screening trials to identify the true incidence and better understand the natural history of this devastating injury.
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Nelson, L.A., O’Brien, D.P., Johannigman, J.A. (2002). Blunt Cerebrovascular Trauma. In: Karmy-Jones, R., Nathens, A., Stern, E.J. (eds) Thoracic Trauma and Critical Care. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1127-4_38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1127-4_38
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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