BACKGROUND: An unrecognized, or occult, injury is particularly dangerous in trauma patients, who often have multiple life-threatening injuries. We sought to determine the frequency and quantify the utility of the abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan in detecting occult pneumothoraces. METHODS: Charts of all trauma patients diagnosed with a pneumothorax over a 7-year period were retrospectively reviewed for findings on admission chest radiograph, abdominal CT scan, and other demographic data. RESULTS: A total of 312 charts were reviewed, with 230 patients identified as having a pneumothorax at admission. Of the 230 patients, 126 (54.8%) had an occult pneumothorax identified on abdominal CT scan. In these patients, the mean Trauma Score was 14.1 +/- 2.9 and the mean Injury Severity Score was 24.1 +/- 11.2. In the group of occult pneumothoraces, 84 (66.7%) underwent chest tube placement. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal CT scanning provided important information about thoracic trauma often missed on initial evaluation in the trauma bay. This information frequently affected the patient's clinical management.
BACKGROUND: An unrecognized, or occult, injury is particularly dangerous in traumapatients, who often have multiple life-threatening injuries. We sought to determine the frequency and quantify the utility of the abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan in detecting occult pneumothoraces. METHODS: Charts of all traumapatients diagnosed with a pneumothorax over a 7-year period were retrospectively reviewed for findings on admission chest radiograph, abdominal CT scan, and other demographic data. RESULTS: A total of 312 charts were reviewed, with 230 patients identified as having a pneumothorax at admission. Of the 230 patients, 126 (54.8%) had an occult pneumothorax identified on abdominal CT scan. In these patients, the mean Trauma Score was 14.1 +/- 2.9 and the mean Injury Severity Score was 24.1 +/- 11.2. In the group of occult pneumothoraces, 84 (66.7%) underwent chest tube placement. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal CT scanning provided important information about thoracic trauma often missed on initial evaluation in the trauma bay. This information frequently affected the patient's clinical management.
Authors: Chad G Ball; Christopher J Dente; Andrew W Kirkpatrick; Amit D Shah; Ravi R Rajani; Amy D Wyrzykowski; Gary A Vercruysse; Grace S Rozycki; Jeffrey M Nicholas; Jeffrey P Salomone; David V Feliciano Journal: Can J Surg Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 2.089
Authors: Alfonso Reginelli; Antonio Pinto; Anna Russo; Giovanni Fontanella; Claudia Rossi; Alessandra Del Prete; Marcello Zappia; Alfredo D'Andrea; Giuseppe Guglielmi; Luca Brunese Journal: Radiol Med Date: 2015-06-02 Impact factor: 3.469