Grade 1 Internal Carotid Artery Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury Persistence Risks Stroke With Current Management: An EAST Multicenter Study

Abstract

Background: Higher blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) grade and lack of medical therapy are associated with stroke. Knowledge of stroke risk factors specific to individual grades may help tailor BCVI therapy to specific injury characteristics. Methods: A post-hoc analysis of a 16 center, prospective, observational trial (2018-2020) was performed including grade 1 internal carotid artery (ICA) BCVI. Repeat imaging was considered the second imaging occurrence only. Results: From 145 grade 1 ICA BCVI included, 8 (5.5%) suffered a stroke. Grade 1 ICA BCVI with stroke were more commonly treated with mixed anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy (75.0% vs 9.6%, P