Skip to main content

Table 3 TAI characteristics

From: Does altitude increase the risk of traumatic aortic injuries? A retrospective cohort study among six level I trauma centers in the United States

 

High Elevation

TAIs

n = 47

Low Elevation

TAIs

n = 47

p-value

Cause, % (n)

 Fall

9% (4)

6% (3)

0.17

 MCC/MVC

70% (32)

72% (34)

 Sports

9% (4)

0% (0)

 Other

13% (6)

21% (10)

Area involved, % (n)

 Thoracic Aorta

81% (28)

83% (39)

0.79

 Aortic Root

2% (1)

2% (1)

> 0.99

 Ascending

11% (5)

4% (2)

0.43

 Proximal

4% (2)

2% (1)

> 0.99

 Mid-Ascending

4% (2)

2% (1)

> 0.99

 Distal

15% (7)

6% (3)

0.18

 Aortic Arch

28% (13)

13% (6)

0.07

 Isthmus

2% (1)

6% (3)

0.62

 Descending

45% (21)

60% (28)

0.15

 Abdominal

21% (10)

9% (4)

0.08

 Suprarenal

2% (1)

0% (0)

> 0.99

 Infrarenal

6% (3)

2% (1)

0.62

TAI Grade, % (n)a

 Grade 1

38% (18)

26% (12)

0.02

 Grade 2

9% (4)

13% (6)

 Grade 3

4% (2)

28% (13)

 Grade 4

28% (13)

15% (7)

 Missing grade

11% (5)

4% (2)

 Multiple grades

11% (5)

15% (7)

Diameter, Median (IQR), mm

30 (24, 33)

28 (23, 32)

0.72

 Aortic Root

32 (31, 34)

27

N/A

 Ascending

29 (25, 34)

30 (28, 32)

0.72

 Descending

22 (22, 24)

25 (22, 33)

0.36

 Abdominal

25 (24, 25)

c

N/A

 Abnormal Diameter, % Yes (n)b

90% (27)

77% (20)

0.43

Mortality, % (n)

30% (14)

32% (6)

0.93

  1. MCC/MVC Motorcycle collision / motor vehicle collision, TAI Traumatic aortic injury, mm millimeters. a = Cell chi-squared test used to determine which independent cells were driving the statistical significance; b = Proportions represent the percentage of those with a diameter recorded, some patient’s diameter measurement was not recorded in the. c None of the LE patients had a diameter recorded for the abdominal aorta. N/A Not applicable, statistical test not performed when there was not more than two patients in both groups