“Endovascular intervention plays a critical role in the care of the trauma patient, improving survival, reducing morbidity and decreasing blood loss,” said SIR President Laura Findeiss, MD, FSIR. “When delivered promptly, it is highly effective in treating bleeds throughout the body, including in the liver, spleen, kidneys and pelvis—saving lives and saving function.”

View the full position statement here.

While traumatic injury is the leading cause of death for people younger than 45, the mortality rates have dropped due to better integration of multidisciplinary care, faster access to advanced imaging and interventions, and use of non-operative management in specific scenarios.

“This position statement sets out important recommendations to ensure that the appropriate level of knowledge and expertise are available among all members of the trauma team to ensure that the right care is delivered as swiftly as possible,” Findeiss said.

Among the recommendations offered in the position statement:

• Immediate 24-hour access to an interventional angiography facility
• A multidisciplinary team that includes specialists who can perform larger and small vessel endovascular interventions
• The ability for an interventional team to be ready to intervene within 60 minutes from the time a multidisciplinary team decides to proceed with an endovascular intervention
• The development and adherence to evidence-based treatment algorithms for each trauma scenario for both adults and children