Is Repeat Computed Tomography Angiography for Asymptomatic Grade 1 Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries Cost-Effective?

Introduction

For all blunt cerebrovascular injuries (BCVIs), the standard recommendation is to obtain repeat computed tomography angiography (CTA) in approximately 7-10 d postinjury to evaluate for progression of BCVI. Given the low likelihood that repeat CTA would result in a change in management apart from continuing antithrombotic therapy in grade 1 BCVI, we hypothesized that repeat CTA in this subset of BCVI would not be cost-effective.

Methods

We performed a decision-analytic model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of repeat CTA at 7-10 d in the base case of a 50-y-old blunt trauma patient with an asymptomatic grade 1 BCVI on antithrombotic therapy. Cost, probability estimates, and utilities in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were accessed from published literature. Deterministic analyses were performed.

Results

Decision-analytic model identified that repeating the CTA was the optimal strategy, with improved effectiveness offsetting a slightly higher cost. Although the strategy with the repeat CTA incurred a net cost of 694.20, the utility is significantly better, with QALYS of 0.94 (repeat CTA) versus 0.86 (no repeat CTA). Deterministic sensitivity analysis revealed most influential variables were the cost of CTA, utility of unnecessary antithrombotic treatment after resolved BCVI, cost of antithrombotic therapy, and utility of endovascular intervention reducing stroke risk.

Conclusions

In patients with asymptomatic grade I BCVI, repeating CTA for grade I BCVI is overall cost-effective, as the improvement in QALYs is substantial enough to offset a slightly higher cost. This supports repeating the CTA as the cost-effective management strategy for asymptomatic grade I BCVI.