Abdel-Mohsen M Hammad1,2, Mohamed A Regal3. 1. Thoracic Surgery Division, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy. mohn_hammad@yahoo.com. 2. Thoracic Surgery Division, Padova University Hospital, via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padova, Italy. mohn_hammad@yahoo.com. 3. Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
STUDY: New generation spiral CT scanners permit multiple consecutive CT examinations on the same trauma patient in a short period of time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic role and therapeutic impact of routine spiral CT chest in multiply injured patients or patients with a suspicious mechanism of injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 443 patients with blunt chest trauma. All patients underwent a spiral CT chest as part of their routine evaluation. Radiological interpretation of chest x-rays, CT scan findings, and changes in management plan guided by these findings were recorded. RESULTS: The mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents in 422 patients (95.26%). Out of the 167 patients with normal chest radiograph, 136 (81.43%) were found to have an abnormality on chest CT. The management was changed in the form of additional investigations or unplanned intervention in 92 patients (20.76%). Additional investigations included transoesophageal echocardiography (n = 7), bronchoscopy (n = 13), transfer to higher center for aortography (n = 2). Intercostal tubes (n = 55), thoracotomies (n = 4), fixation of sternal fracture (n = 9), laparotomy (n = 1) and spinalfixation (n = 1) were performed following the CT scan. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of significant injuries identified by the chest CT scan was low, it did prompt immediate intervention in a significant number of patients; some of them had potentially life-threatening injuries. Routine use of CT scanning is warranted in early evaluation of polytrauma patients or patients with severe blunt chest trauma.
STUDY: New generation spiral CT scanners permit multiple consecutive CT examinations on the same traumapatient in a short period of time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic role and therapeutic impact of routine spiral CT chest in multiply injured patients or patients with a suspicious mechanism of injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 443 patients with blunt chest trauma. All patients underwent a spiral CT chest as part of their routine evaluation. Radiological interpretation of chest x-rays, CT scan findings, and changes in management plan guided by these findings were recorded. RESULTS: The mechanism of injury was road traffic accidents in 422 patients (95.26%). Out of the 167 patients with normal chest radiograph, 136 (81.43%) were found to have an abnormality on chest CT. The management was changed in the form of additional investigations or unplanned intervention in 92 patients (20.76%). Additional investigations included transoesophageal echocardiography (n = 7), bronchoscopy (n = 13), transfer to higher center for aortography (n = 2). Intercostal tubes (n = 55), thoracotomies (n = 4), fixation of sternal fracture (n = 9), laparotomy (n = 1) and spinalfixation (n = 1) were performed following the CT scan. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of significant injuries identified by the chest CT scan was low, it did prompt immediate intervention in a significant number of patients; some of them had potentially life-threatening injuries. Routine use of CT scanning is warranted in early evaluation of polytraumapatients or patients with severe blunt chest trauma.
Authors: F Guerrero-López; G Vázquez-Mata; P P Alcázar-Romero; E Fernández-Mondéjar; E Aguayo-Hoyos; C M Linde-Valverde Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 2000-05 Impact factor: 7.598
Authors: Mannudeep K Kalra; Michael M Maher; Stefania Rizzo; David Kanarek; Jo-Anne O Shepard; Jo-Anne O Shephard Journal: J Korean Med Sci Date: 2004-04 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: N Moussavi; H Ghani; A Davoodabadi; F Atoof; A Moravveji; S Saidfar; H Talari Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2017-09-25 Impact factor: 3.693