Background
Uncontrolled hemorrhage from vessel injuries within the torso remains a significant source of prehospital trauma mortality. Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta can effectively control non-compressible hemorrhage, but this minimally invasive technique relies heavily upon imaging not available in the field. Our goal was to develop morphometric roadmaps to enhance the safety and accuracy of fluoroscopy-free endovascular navigation of hemorrhage control devices.
Methods
Three-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomography angiography scans from n=122 trauma patients (mean age 47±24 years, range 5-93 years, 64 Male/58 Female) were used to measure centerline distances from femoral artery access sites to the major aortic branch artery origins. Morphometric roadmap equations were created using multiple linear regression analysis to predict distances to the origins of the major arteries in the chest, abdomen and pelvis using torso length, demographics, and risk factors as independent variables. A 40-mm long occlusion balloon was then virtually deployed targeting Zones 1 and 3 of the aorta using these equations. Balloon placement accuracy was determined by comparing predicted versus actual measured distances to the target zone locations within the aortas from the database.
Results
Torso length and age were the strongest predictors of centerline distances from femoral artery access sites to the major artery origins. Male gender contributed to longer distances while diabetes and smoking were associated with shorter distances. Hypertension, dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease had no effect. Using morphometric roadmaps, virtual occlusion balloon placement accuracy was 100% for Zone 3 of the aorta, compared to 87% accuracy when using torso length alone.
Conclusion
Morphometric roadmaps demonstrate potential for improving the safety and accuracy of fluoroscopy-free aortic occlusion balloon delivery. Continued development of minimally invasive hemorrhage control techniques hold promise to improve prehospital mortality for patients with noncompressible exsanguinating torso injuries.
Level of evidence
Diagnostic, level III.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.