ABSTRACT
Background: Hepatic trauma is a common disease in surgical emergency. Nowadays, there are many means of diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging.. but computerized tomography is more valuable in the diagnosis and treatment decisions. Objectives: To assess the value of computerized tomography in diagnosis of hepatic trauma. Subjects and method: To conduct computerized tomography on 36 patients with hepatic trauma (28 male, 8 female, aged 5-70 year olds), was diagnosed by ultrasound in Viet Duc hospital from January, 2005-June, 2005. Results: Major cause of the trauma was still due to traffic accidents (77.8%), followed by living and occupational accidents (61.5%). Using computerized tomography, there were only 12 patients undergoing surgery, the remainders were conservative treated. The common signs were: fluids in abdominal cavity: 33/36 patients (91.7%), without fluids in abdominal cavity: 3 patients. Parenchyma crush: 28/36 patients (77.8%). The most common lesion site was right liver. Diagnostic CT scans at 4 or more degrees was necessary during considering surgical indication for cases of having combined injuries, which can lead to hemodynamic dysfunction. Therefore, clinicians tend to use conservative therapy in hepatic trauma. Conclusion: CT scans was chosen as major examination to determine exactly level of lesions and to decide procedures.