The Benefit of Routine Thoracic, Abdominal, and Pelvic Computed Tomography to Evaluate Trauma Patients with Closed Head Injuries

Overview

Journal Am J Surg

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2003 Dec 16

PMID 14672766

Citations 24

Authors

Michael L Self

Anna-Maria Blake

Macy Whitley

Leonard Nadalo

Ernest Dunn

Affiliations

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Abstract

Background: The evaluation of multitrauma patients for blunt truncal injuries remains open for debate. We sought to evaluate the role of routine computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis as a screening tool for patients already undergoing cranial CT studies.

Methods: Charts of blunt trauma patients admitted from June 2000 to June 2001 were reviewed for demographics, Glascow Coma Scale (GCS), physical and radiological findings, and length of stay.

Results: Our study found that 38% of patients undergoing cranial CT scanning had a unexpected finding on body scans. Changes were made in 26% of the study group because results found on the adjuvant CTs.

Conclusions: Additional body CTs add minimal cost to the care of trauma patients but can significantly change the management. We believe it is beneficial to perform routine body CT examinations when performing cranial imaging for blunt head injury.

Citing Articles

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Mortality Rate of Trauma Patients with ESI Triage Level 1-2 Who Underwent Computerized Tomography-PANSCAN versus Conventional Computerized Tomography Scan.

Savatmongkorngul S, Yuksen C, Maspol W, Sricharoen P, Wongwaisayawan S, Jenpanitpong C Open Access Emerg Med. 2021; 13:457-463.

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Refining the criteria for immediate total-body CT after severe trauma.

Treskes K, Saltzherr T, Edwards M, Beuker B, Van Lieshout E, Hohmann J Eur Radiol. 2020; 30(5):2955-2963.

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Cross-sectional imaging of the torso reveals occult injuries in asymptomatic blunt trauma patients.

Roberts G, Jacobson L, Amaral M, Jensen C, Cooke L, Schultz J World J Emerg Surg. 2020; 15:5.

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Torso computed tomography in blunt trauma patients with normal vital signs can be avoided using non-invasive tests and close clinical evaluation.

Reitano E, Briani L, Sammartano F, Cimbanassi S, Luperto M, Vanzulli A Emerg Radiol. 2019; 26(6):655-661.

PMID: 31446523 DOI: 10.1007/s10140-019-01712-0.