title: An outcome analysis of endovascular versus open repair of blunt traumatic aortic injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aortic injury is the second most common cause of death after blunt trauma. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been rapidly adopted as an alternative to the traditional open repair (OR) for treatment of traumatic aortic injury (TAI). This paradigm shift has improved the outcomes in these patients. This study evaluated the outcomes of TEVAR compared with OR for patients with TAI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed prospectively collected data from the institutional trauma registry between April 2002 and June 2010. These data were supplemented with a retrospective review of hospital financial accounts. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of any complication, including in-hospital death. Secondary outcomes included fixed, variable, and total hospital costs and intensive care unit (ICU), preoperative, postoperative and total hospital length of stay (LOS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst 106 consecutive patients (74 men; mean age, 36.4 years), 56 underwent OR and 50 underwent TEVAR for treatment of TAI. The proportion of patients who underwent TEVAR compared with OR increased from 0% to 100% during the study period. The TEVAR patients were significantly older than the OR patients (41.1 vs 32.2 years, P=.012). For patients who underwent TEVAR, the estimated odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of complications, including in-hospital mortality was 0.33 (0.11-0.97; P=.045) compared with the OR group. The average number of complications, including in-hospital death, was higher in the OR group than in the TEVAR group (adjusted means, 1.29 vs 0.94). The OR group had a higher proportion of patients with complications, including in-hospital death, compared with the TEVAR group (69.6% vs 48%). Although, the mean adjusted variable costs were higher for TEVAR than for OR (P=.017), the mean adjusted fixed and total costs were not significantly different. Owing to a policy of delayed selective management, the adjusted preoperative LOS was significantly higher for TEVAR (9.8 vs 3.0 days, P=.022). The difference in the ICU or total hospital LOS was not significant. Although the proportion of uninsured patients was similar in both groups, the cohort (n=106) had a significantly higher proportion of uninsured patients (29% vs 5%) compared with the general vascular surgical population at our institution (0.29 vs 0.051, 95% confidence interval for difference in proportions, 0.22-0.40; P<.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with TEVAR, patients who underwent OR had three times higher odds to face a complication or in-hospital death. The mean total cost of TEVAR was not significantly different than OR. The findings support the use of TEVAR over OR for patients with TAI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center and Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ali.azizzadeh@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azizzadeh
authors.forename: Kristofer M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Charlton-Ouw
authors.forename: Zhongxue
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mohammad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rahbar
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Estrera
authors.forename: Hammad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amer
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Coogan
authors.forename: Hazim J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Safi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult