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Case Reports
. 2017 Jan;5(1):53-57.

Endovascular Management of a Combined Subclavian and Vertebral Artery Injury in an Unstable Polytrauma Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Christian David Weber  1 , Philipp Kobbe  1 , Christian Herren  1 , Andreas H Mahnken  2 , Frank Hildebrand  1 , Hans-Christoph Pape  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Endovascular Management of a Combined Subclavian and Vertebral Artery Injury in an Unstable Polytrauma Patient: Case Report and Literature Review

Christian David Weber et al. Bull Emerg Trauma. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

While blunt trauma of the head and neck are a common pattern of injury, significant problems related to the prompt diagnosis and optimal management of traumatic artery injuries have been reported in the literature. While patients with major artery injuries might develop hemorrhagic shock very rapidly, patients with blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVI) can present asymptomatic, but complications like basilar territory infarction, cortical blindness and death may occur. We report the life- and limb-saving management in a 57-year-old hemodynamically unstable trauma patient. The individual developed hemorrhagic shock, and other major complications, including cortical blindness, related to a posterior circulation stroke. Full recovery was achieved by immediate endovascular prosthesis for subclavian artery (SA) rupture and stenting of a traumatic vertebral artery occlusion. Endovascular and alternative treatment options are discussed and the management of subsequent sequelae associated with aggressive anticoagulation in trauma patients is reviewed, including intracranial, abdominal and other sites of secondary hemorrhage.

Keywords: Artery repair/stenting; Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI); Subclavian Artery; Vascular injuries; Vertebral Artery.

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Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Hematoma of right shoulder girdle A) day 2, B) day 7.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Computed tomography Angiography (CTA): sagittal view demonstrating multiple spinous process fractures in the cervico-thoracic junction (A) and absent perfusion of the right vertebral artery in coronal view (B
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Digital subtraction angiography; endovascular stenting of vertebral artery (S1 segment) and subclavian artery (A) and controlling of distal perfusion (B). AA: Axillary artery; BA: Brachial artery; VA: Vertebral artery
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Axial images of brain magnetic resonance imaging of the patients demonstrating ischemia of the both occipital cortex (primary visual cortex) resulting in cortical blindness
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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