BACKGROUND: CT scans are often used in the evaluation of blunt trauma patients. Many scans are negative. Clinical predictors of positive abdominal CT scans would be beneficial in patient care. METHODS: A prospective study of 213 patients at a Level I trauma center presenting with blunt trauma who underwent abdominal CT scan. Indications for CT scan were analyzed statistically, using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: Univariate chi2 tests showed abnormal pelvis x-ray (p = 0.0002) and an intubated patient (p = 0.03) were predictors of a positive CT scan. When subjected to multivariate logistic regression, these two indications were significant predictors of a positive CT scan, abnormal pelvis x-ray (p = 0.0005, OR=6.6, 95% CI), and an intubated patient (p = 0.02, OR=2.6, 95% CI). Univariate chi2 tests also showed that alcohol intoxication was statistically significant predictor of a negative CT scan (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that an abnormal pelvis x-ray and intubation are significant risk factors for a positive CT scan. Alcohol intoxication, mechanism of injury, and unreliable examination, without other associated indication for a scan, may warrant further study.
BACKGROUND: CT scans are often used in the evaluation of blunt traumapatients. Many scans are negative. Clinical predictors of positive abdominal CT scans would be beneficial in patient care. METHODS: A prospective study of 213 patients at a Level I trauma center presenting with blunt trauma who underwent abdominal CT scan. Indications for CT scan were analyzed statistically, using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: Univariate chi2 tests showed abnormal pelvis x-ray (p = 0.0002) and an intubated patient (p = 0.03) were predictors of a positive CT scan. When subjected to multivariate logistic regression, these two indications were significant predictors of a positive CT scan, abnormal pelvis x-ray (p = 0.0005, OR=6.6, 95% CI), and an intubated patient (p = 0.02, OR=2.6, 95% CI). Univariate chi2 tests also showed that alcohol intoxication was statistically significant predictor of a negative CT scan (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that an abnormal pelvis x-ray and intubation are significant risk factors for a positive CT scan. Alcohol intoxication, mechanism of injury, and unreliable examination, without other associated indication for a scan, may warrant further study.
Authors: Tyler J Loftus; Megan L Morrow; Lawrence Lottenberg; Martin D Rosenthal; Chasen A Croft; R Stephen Smith; Frederick A Moore; Scott C Brakenridge; Robert Borrego; Philip A Efron; Alicia M Mohr Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2018-11-28 Impact factor: 2.565
Authors: Edward L Jones; Robert T Stovall; Teresa S Jones; Denis D Bensard; Clay Cothren Burlew; Jeffrey L Johnson; Gregory Jerry Jurkovich; Carlton C Barnett; Frederic M Pieracci; Walter L Biffl; Ernest E Moore Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2014-04 Impact factor: 3.313
Authors: Beat Schnüriger; Joachim Kilz; Daniel Inderbitzin; Miranda Schafer; Ralph Kickuth; Martin Luginbühl; Daniel Candinas; Aristomenis K Exadaktylos; Heinz Zimmermann Journal: BMC Med Imaging Date: 2009-03-26 Impact factor: 1.930