BACKGROUND: Chest computed tomographic (CT) scanning is used frequently to evaluate symptomatic patients for pulmonary embolus (PE). The incidence of PE diagnosed by helical CT scanning in asymptomatic patients is unknown. METHODS: Asymptomatic trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score > or = 9 were studied with contrast-enhanced helical CT images of the chest, pelvis, and lower extremities. Clot burden was assessed using an anatomic scoring system. Patients not receiving anticoagulation were followed. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 90 patients had a PE. Four had major clot burden, including one patient with a saddle embolus. Risk factors for asymptomatic PE include age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04), head injury (OR, 6.78), chest injury (OR, 4.51), lower extremity injury (OR, 5.03), and transfusion (OR, 3.42). Thirty percent of patients receiving pharmacologic prophylaxis had a PE. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic PE occur in 24% of moderately to severely injured patients. Age, head, chest, and lower extremity injury are associated with an increased risk. Standard thromboembolic prophylaxis is not reliably protective.
BACKGROUND: Chest computed tomographic (CT) scanning is used frequently to evaluate symptomatic patients for pulmonary embolus (PE). The incidence of PE diagnosed by helical CT scanning in asymptomatic patients is unknown. METHODS: Asymptomatic traumapatients with an Injury Severity Score > or = 9 were studied with contrast-enhanced helical CT images of the chest, pelvis, and lower extremities. Clot burden was assessed using an anatomic scoring system. Patients not receiving anticoagulation were followed. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 90 patients had a PE. Four had major clot burden, including one patient with a saddle embolus. Risk factors for asymptomatic PE include age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04), head injury (OR, 6.78), chest injury (OR, 4.51), lower extremity injury (OR, 5.03), and transfusion (OR, 3.42). Thirty percent of patients receiving pharmacologic prophylaxis had a PE. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic PE occur in 24% of moderately to severely injured patients. Age, head, chest, and lower extremity injury are associated with an increased risk. Standard thromboembolic prophylaxis is not reliably protective.
Authors: Hunter B Moore; Ernest E Moore; Matthew D Neal; Forest R Sheppard; Lucy Z Kornblith; Dominik F Draxler; Mark Walsh; Robert L Medcalf; Mitch J Cohen; Bryan A Cotton; Scott G Thomas; Christine M Leeper; Barbara A Gaines; Angela Sauaia Journal: Anesth Analg Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 5.108
Authors: Jeffrey N Harr; Ernest E Moore; Theresa L Chin; Arsen Ghasabyan; Eduardo Gonzalez; Max V Wohlauer; Angela Sauaia; Anirban Banerjee; Christopher C Silliman Journal: Shock Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 3.454
Authors: Jeffrey N Harr; Ernest E Moore; Theresa L Chin; Arsen Ghasabyan; Eduardo Gonzalez; Max V Wohlauer; Anirban Banerjee; Christopher C Silliman; Angela Sauaia Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2013-03 Impact factor: 3.313
Authors: Scott C Brakenridge; Steven S Henley; T Michael Kashner; Richard M Golden; Dae-Hyun Paik; Herb A Phelan; Mitchell J Cohen; Jason L Sperry; Ernest E Moore; Joseph P Minei; Ronald V Maier; Joseph Cuschieri Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 3.313