Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) After Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Background: The effects of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) on progression of
traumatic brain injury (TBI) are unclear. Two hypotheses prevail: increased mean arterial pressure may improve cerebral
perfusion, or cause cerebral edema due to elevated intracranial pressure. This study compares outcomes in
hypotensive, blunt trauma patients with TBI treated with and without REBOA.
Methods: A retrospective analysis compared hypotensive (systolic blood pressure [SBP] >90) blunt trauma patients
with TBI treated with REBOA to those treated without. Patients with spontaneous circulation at admission and at
initiation of aortic occlusion were included. Patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the emergency
department (ED) were excluded. Radius matching used age, injury severity score (ISS), abbreviated injury score (AIS)-
head, and Glasgow coma score (GCS) and SBP at ED arrival.
Results: Of 232 patients, 135 were treated with REBOA and 97 without. REBOA patients were older and had higher
ISS, AIS-head, AIS-chest and AIS-extremity. There was no difference in TBI severity, and mortality. In the matched
analysis (n = 76 REBOA, n = 54 non-REBOA), there was no difference in ISS, AIS-head, pre-hospital, ED, or discharge
GCS, ED SBP, or mortality. Despite longer hospital stays for REBOA patients, there was no difference in intensive care
unit length of stay, rate of discharge home, or discharge GCS.
Conclusions: REBOA was used in more severely injured patients, but was not associated with higher mortality rate.
REBOA should be considered for use in patients with non-compressible torso hemorrhage and concomitant TBI, as it
did not increase mortality, and outcomes were similar to non-REBOA patients.