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Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury (BTAI) Score of Harris et al

Description

Harris et al developed a score for evaluating a patient with a high-grade blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI). This can help to identify a patient who is at risk for early rupture and who should have early surgery. The authors are from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Unit.


 

Patient selection: patient with trauma to the aorta

 

Parameters present on admission:

(1) plasma lactate in mmol/L

(2) diameter of mediastinal hematoma in mm

(3) diameter of pseudoaneurysm in mm

(4) diameter of normal aorta in mm

 

ratio of the diameter of pseudoaneurysm to normal aorta =

= (diameter of aortic lesion in mm) / (diameter of normal aorta in mm)

 

Parameter

Finding

Points

plasma lactate

<= 4 mmol/L

0

 

> 4 mmol/L

1

mediastinal hematoma

<= 10 mm

0

 

> 10 mm

1

ratio of pseudoaneurysm to normal aorta

<= 1.4

0

 

> 1.4

1

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 3

• A score >= 2 is associated with aortic rupture.

 


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