Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of CT scan with oral and intravenous contrast versus CT scan with intravenous contrast alone in the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Abdominal CT scan using oral and intravenous (IV) contrast is helpful in the diagnosis of intra-abdominal injuries. However, the use of oral and IV contrast delays the process of diagnosis and increases the risk of aspiration. It has also been shown that CT scan with IV contrast alone is as helpful as CT scan with oral and IV contrast and rectal CT scan in detecting abdominal injuries. Therefore, the present study aims to prospectively compare the diagnostic value of CT scan with oral and IV contrast versus CT scan with IV contrast alone in the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT).@*METHODS@#Altogether 123 BAT patients, 60 (48.8%) women and 63 (51.2%) men with the mean age of (40.4 ± 18.7) years who referred to the emergency department of Imam Khomeini Educational and Medical Center in Sari, Iran (a tertiary trauma center in north of Iran) from November 2014 to March 2017 and underwent abdominal CT scans + laparotomy were investigated. Those with penetrating trauma or hemodynamically unstable patients were excluded. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: abdominal CT scan with oral and IV contrast (n = 63) and CT scan with IV contrast alone (n = 60). No statistically significant difference was found between two groups regarding the hemodynamic parameters, age, gender, injury mechanisms (all p > 0.05). The results of CT scan were compared with that of laparotomy results. The collected data were recorded in SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. Quantitative data were presented as mean and SD.@*RESULTS@#The sensitivity and specificity of CT scan using oral and IV contrast in the diagnosis of BAT were estimated at 96.48 (95% CI: 90.73 - 99.92) and 92.67 (95% CI: 89.65 - 94.88), respectively; while CT scan with IV contrast alone achieved a comparable sensitivity and specificity of 96.6 (95% CI: 87.45 - 99,42 and 92.84 (95% CI: 89.88 - 95.00), respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#CT scan with IV contrast alone can be used to assess visceral injuries in BAT patients with normal hemodynamics to avoid diagnostic delay.

Logistic Regression Analysis of the Mechanism of Blunt Brain Injury Inference Based on CT Images / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the correlation between CT imaging features of acceleration and deceleration brain injury and injury degree.@*METHODS@#A total of 299 cases with acceleration and deceleration brain injury were collected and divided into acceleration brain injury group and deceleration brain injury group according to the injury mechanism. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and Glasgow coma scale (GCS), combined with skull fracture, epidural hematoma (EDH), subdural hematoma (SDH) and brain contusion on the same and opposite sides of the stress point were selected as the screening indexes. χ2 test was used for primary screening, and binary logistic regression analysis was used for secondary screening. The indexes with the strongest correlation in acceleration and deceleration injury mechanism were selected.@*RESULTS@#χ2 test showed that skull fracture and EDH on the same side of the stress point; EDH, SDH and brain contusion on the opposite of the stress point; SAH, GCS were correlated with acceleration and deceleration injury (P<0.05). According to binary logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) of EDH on the same side of the stress point was 2.697, the OR of brain contusion on the opposite of the stress point was 0.043 and the OR of GCS was 0.238, suggesting there was statistically significant (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#EDH on the same side of the stress point, brain contusion on the opposite of the stress point and GCS can be used as key indicators to distinguish acceleration and deceleration injury mechanism. In addition, skull fracture on the same side of the stress point, EDH and SDH on the opposite of the stress point and SAH were relatively weak indicators in distinguishing acceleration and deceleration injury mechanism.

Correlation of rib fracture patterns with abdominal solid organ injury: A retrospective observational cohort study / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

PURPOSE@#Rib fractures are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality and are associated with abdominal solid organ injury (ASOI). The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of ASOI with the number, location, and involved segments of rib fracture(s) in blunt chest trauma.@*METHODS@#This retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with blunt chest trauma over the age of 15 years, who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of rib fractures from July 2015 to September 2020. After ethic committee approval, a retrospective chart review was designed and patients with a diagnosis of rib fractures were selected. Patients who had chest and abdominopelvic CT scan were included in the study and additional data including age, gender, injury severity score, trauma mechanism, number and sides of the fractured ribs (left/right/bilateral), rib fracture segments (upper, middle, lower zone) and results of chest and abdominal spiral CT scan were recorded. The correlation between ASOI and the sides, segments and number of rib fracture(s) was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient.@*RESULTS@#Altogether 1056 patients with rib fracture(s) were included. The mean age was (42.76 ± 13.35) years and 85.4% were male. The most common mechanism of trauma was car accident (34.6%). Most fractures occurred in the middle rib zone (60.44%) and the most commonly involved ribs were the 6th and 7th ones (15.7% and 16.4%, respectively). Concurrent abdominal injuries were observed in 103 patients (34.91%) and were significantly associated with middle zone rib fractures.@*CONCLUSION@#There is a significant relationship between middle zone rib fractures and ASOI. Intra-abdominal injuries are not restricted to fractures of the lower ribs and thus should always be kept in mind during management of blunt trauma patients with rib fractures.

Lesiones precordiales: reporte de dos casos / Precordial injuries: report of two cases

Las heridas precordiales son una entidad poco frecuente y desafiante en cirugía de trauma en los servicios de Emergencia. La incidencia elevada de taponamiento y trauma cardiaco, así como su alta mortalidad obliga a tomar decisiones diagnósticas y terapéuticas rápidas y precisas. Material y Métodos: se presentan los casos de dos pacientes masculinos que ingresaron al servicio de Emergencia del Hospital Roosevelt con lesiones precordiales penetrantes con trauma pericárdico y cardiaco, con diferentes manifestaciones clínicas a los que se les realizó ventana pericárdica subxifoidea diagnóstica y seguido una esternotomía media con exposición pericárdica y cardiaca como abordaje y tratamiento quirúrgico definitivo. Discusión: Es de suma importancia reconocer los amplios escenarios de presentaciones clínicas del paciente con heridas en la región precordial y mantener un alto índice de sospecha de trauma y taponamiento cardiacos en todas las lesiones precordiales penetrantes en pacientes estables e inestables para no retrasar el diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico temprano y adecuado. Las lesiones asociadas y complicaciones trans y postoperatorias aumentan la mortalidad de estos pacientes (AU)

Precordial wounds are rare and challenging lesions in Trauma Services. The high incidence of cardiac trauma and the high mortality requires fast and precise diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. Case report: Two male patients who were admitted to the Roosevelt Hospital Emergency Service with penetrating precordial injuries with pericardial and cardiac trauma are presented, with different clinical manifestations, who underwent a diagnostic subxiphoid pericardial window and a median sternotomy with pericardial and cardiac exposure as a definitive surgical approach and treatment. Discussion: Is important to recognize the broad scenarios of patients with wounds in the precordial region and to maintain a high index of suspicion of cardiac trauma and tamponade in all penetrating precordial injuries inclusive in stable patients to not delay diagnosis and treatment and a proper surgical intervention. Associated injuries and perioperative complications increase the mortality of these patients

Implementation of a new Single-Pass Whole-Body Computed Tomography Protocol: Is it safe, effective and efficient in patients with severe trauma? / Implementación de un nuevo protocolo de Tomografía Computarizada Corporal Total de un solo pase: ¿Es seguro, efectivo y eficiente en pacientes con trauma severo?

Abstract Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a new single-pass whole-body computed tomography Protocol in the management of patients with severe trauma. Methods: This was a descriptive evaluation of polytrauma patients who underwent whole-body computed tomography. Patients were divided into three groups: 1. Blunt trauma hemodynamically stable 2. Blunt trauma hemodynamically unstable and 3. Penetrating trauma. Demographics, whole-body computed tomography parameters and outcome variables were evaluated. Results: Were included 263 patients. Median injury severity score was 22 (IQR: 16-22). Time between arrival to the emergency department and completing the whole-body computed tomography was under 30 minutes in most patients [Group 1: 28 minutes (IQR: 14-55), Group 2: 29 minutes (IQR: 16-57), and Group 3: 31 minutes (IQR: 13-50; p= 0.96)]. 172 patients (65.4%) underwent non-operative management. The calculated and the real survival rates did not vary among the groups either [Group 1: TRISS 86.4% vs. real survival rate 85% (p= 0.69); Group 2: TRISS 69% vs. real survival rate 74% (p= 0.25); Group 3: TRISS 93% vs. real survival rate 87% (p= 0.07)]. Conclusion: This new single-pass whole-body computed tomography protocol was safe, effective and efficient to decide whether the patient with severe trauma requires a surgical intervention independently of the mechanism of injury or the hemodynamic stability of the patient. Its use could also potentially reduce the rate of unnecessary surgical interventions of patients with severe trauma including those with penetrating trauma.

Resumen Introducción: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la implementación de un nuevo protocolo de tomografía computarizada corporal total para el manejo de pacientes con trauma severo. Métodos: Este estudio es una evaluación descriptiva de pacientes que recibieron tomografía computarizada corporal total. Los pacientes fueron divididos en 3 grupos: 1. Trauma cerrado hemodinámicamente estables, 2. Trauma cerrado hemodinámicamente inestables y 3. Trauma penetrante. Se evaluaron las características demográficas, parámetros relacionados con la técnica y los desenlaces de los pacientes. Resultados: Se incluyeron 263 pacientes. La mediana del puntaje de severidad de la lesión fue 22 (RIQ: 16-22). El tiempo entre el ingreso a urgencias y completar la tomografía corporal total fue menor a 30 minutos en la mayoría de pacientes [Grupo 1: 28 minutos (RIQ: 14-55), Grupo 2: 29 minutos (RIQ: 16-57), y Grupo 3: 31 minutos (RIQ: 13-50; p= 0.96). 172 pacientes (65.4%) recibieron manejo no operatorio. Las tasas de supervivencia calculadas y reales no difirieron entre ninguno de los grupos [Grupo 1: TRISS 86.4% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 85% (p= 0.69); Grupo 2: TRISS 69% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 74% (p= 0.25); Grupo 3: TRISS 93% vs. Tasa real de supervivencia 87% (p= 0.07)]. Conclusión: Este nuevo protocolo de tomografía corporal total de un solo pase fue seguro, efectivo y eficiente para definir si los pacientes con trauma severo requieren o no una intervención quirúrgica. Su uso podría reducir la tasa de intervenciones quirúrgicas innecesarias en estos pacientes incluyendo los que se presentan con trauma penetrante.

CT scanning in blunt chest trauma: validation of decision instruments / Tomografia computadorizada em trauma torácico fechado: validação de instrumentos de decisão

ABSTRACT Objective: to perform an external validation of two clinical decision instruments (DIs) - Chest CT-All and Chest CT-Major - in a cohort of patients with blunt chest trauma undergoing chest CT scanning at a trauma referral center, and determine if these DIs are safe options for selective ordering of chest CT scans in patients with blunt chest trauma admitted to emergency units. Methods: cross-sectional study of patients with blunt chest trauma undergoing chest CT scanning over a period of 11 months. Chest CT reports were cross-checked with the patients' electronic medical record data. The sensitivity and specificity of both instruments were calculated. Results: the study included 764 patients. The Chest CT-All DI showed 100% sensitivity for all injuries and specificity values of 33.6% for injuries of major clinical significance and 40.4% for any lesion. The Chest CT-Major DI had sensitivity of 100% for injuries of major clinical significance, which decreased to 98.6% for any lesions, and specificity values of 37.4% for injuries of major clinical significance and 44.6% for all lesions. Conclusion: both clinical DIs validated in this study showed adequate sensitivity to detect chest injuries on CT and can be safely used to forego chest CT evaluation in patients without any of the criteria that define each DI. Had the Chest CT-All and Chest CT-Major DIs been applied in this cohort, the number of CT scans performed would have decreased by 23.1% and 24.6%, respectively, resulting in cost reduction and avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure.

RESUMO Objetivo: realizar validação externa de dois instrumentos de decisão clínica (IDCs) - TC de tórax-All e TC de tórax-Major - em uma coorte de pacientes com trauma torácico fechado submetidos a tomografia computadorizada de tórax em centro de referência para trauma, e determinar se esses IDCs são opções seguras para solicitação seletiva de tomografias computadorizadas de tórax em pacientes com trauma torácico fechado admitidos em unidades de emergência. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo transversal de pacientes com trauma torácico fechado submetidos a tomografia computadorizada de tórax, por período de 11 meses. Os laudos da TC de tórax foram cruzados com os dados do prontuário eletrônico dos pacientes. A sensibilidade e especificidade de ambos os instrumentos foram calculadas. Resultados: o estudo incluiu 764 pacientes. O IDC TC de tórax-All apresentou sensibilidade de 100% para todas as lesões e especificidades de 33,6% para lesões de maior significado clínico e 40,4% para qualquer lesão. O IDC TC de tórax Major teve sensibilidade de 100% para lesões de maior significado clínico, que diminuiu para 98,6% para quaisquer lesões, e especificidades de 37,4% para lesões de maior significado clínico e 44,6% para todas as lesões. Conclusão: ambos os instrumentos de decisão clínica validados neste estudo mostraram sensibilidade adequada para detectar lesões torácicas na TC e podem ser usados com segurança para dispensar a avaliação da TC de tórax em pacientes sem nenhum dos critérios que definem o IDC. Se os IDCs TC de tórax-All e TC de tórax Major de tórax tivessem sido aplicados nesta coorte, o número de tomografias realizadas teria diminuído em 23,1% e 24,6%, respectivamente, resultando em redução de custos e evitando exposição desnecessária à radiação.

High grade renal trauma due to blunt injury in children: do all require intervention? / Trauma renal de alto grau devido a lesão contusa em crianças: será que todas necessitam intervenção?

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the presentation and management of major grade renal trauma in children. Method: A retrospective study was performed including data collected from the patients who were admitted in Pediatric surgery with major grade renal injury (grade 3 and more) from January 2015 to August 2018. Demography, clinical parameters, management, duration of hospital stay and final outcome were noted. Results: Out of 13 children (9 males and 4 females), with age range 2-12 years (mean of 8 years), reported self-fall was the commonest mode of injury followed by road traffic accident. The majority (10/13, 75%) had a right renal injury. Eight children had a grade IV injury, one had a grade V injury, and four children had grade III injury. Duration of hospital stay varied from 3 to 28 (mean of 11.7) days. Three children required blood transfusion. One child required image guided aspiration twice and two required pigtail insertion for perinephric collection. All the 13 children improved without readmission or need for any other surgical intervention. Conclusion: Children with major grade renal trauma due to blunt injury can be successfully managed without surgical intervention and minimal intervention may only be needed in select situations.

RESUMO Introdução: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a apresentação e tratamento de grande trauma renal em crianças. Método: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo incluindo dados coletados dos pacientes que foram internados na cirurgia pediátrica com lesão renal de grau importante (grau 3 ou mais) de janeiro de 2015 a agosto de 2018. Coletamos dados a respeito de demografia, parâmetros clínicos, manejo, tempo de internação e resultado final. Resultados: Das 13 crianças (9 homens e 4 mulheres) com faixa etária de 2-12 anos (média de 8 anos), a queda auto-relatada foi o modo de lesão mais comum seguido de acidente de trânsito. A maioria (10/13, 75%) apresentou lesão renal direita. Oito crianças tiveram uma lesão grau IV, uma apresentou uma lesão grau V e quatro crianças apresentaram lesão grau III. A duração da internação hospitalar variou de 3 a 28 (média de 11,7) dias. Três crianças necessitaram de transfusão de sangue. Uma criança necessitou de aspiração guiada por imagem duas vezes e duas inserções de dreno pigtail exigidas para coleções perinefréticas. Todas as 13 crianças melhoraram sem re-internação ou necessidade de qualquer outra intervenção cirúrgica. Conclusão: Crianças com trauma renal de alto grau devido a lesão contusa podem ser manejadas com sucesso sem intervenção cirúrgica, e intervenção mínima pode ser necessária apenas em situações selecionadas.

Ruling out intra-abdominal injuries in blunt trauma patients using clinical criteria and abdominal ultrasound / Exclusão de lesões intra-abdominais em vítimas de trauma fechado através de variáveis clínicas e ultrassom abdominal completo

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify victims of blunt abdominal trauma in which intra-abdominal injuries can be excluded by clinical criteria and by complete abdominal ultrasonography. Methods: retrospective analysis of victims of blunt trauma in which the following clinical variables were analyzed: hemodynamic stability, normal neurologic exam at admission, normal physical exam of the chest at admission, normal abdomen and pelvis physical exam at admission and absence of distracting lesions (Abbreviated Injury Scale >2 at skull, thorax and/or extremities). The ultrasound results were then studied in the group of patients with all clinical variables evaluated. Results: we studied 5536 victims of blunt trauma. Intra-abdominal lesions with AIS>1 were identified in 144 (2.6%); in patients with hemodynamic stability they were present in 86 (2%); in those with hemodynamic stability and normal neurological exam at admission in 50 (1.8%); in patients with hemodynamic stability and normal neurological and chest physical exam at admission, in 39 (1.5%); in those with hemodynamic stability, normal neurological, chest, abdominal and pelvic physical exam at admission, in 12 (0.5%); in patients with hemodynamic stability, normal neurological, chest, abdominal and pelvic physical exam at admission, and absence of distracting lesions, only two (0.1%) had intra-abdominal lesions. Among those with all clinical variables, 693 had normal total abdominal ultrasound, and, within this group, there were no identified intra-abdominal lesions. Conclusion: when all clinical criteria and total abdominal ultrasound are associated, it is possible to identify a group of victims of blunt trauma with low chance of significant intra-abdominal lesions.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar vítimas de trauma fechado de abdome nas quais as lesões intra-abdominais possam ser excluídas por critérios clínicos e por ultrassonografia abdominal completa. Métodos: análise retrospectiva de vítimas de trauma fechado em que se analisou as seguintes variáveis clínicas: estabilidade hemodinâmica, exame neurológico normal à admissão, exame físico do tórax, do abdome e da pelve normais à admissão e ausência de lesões distrativas (Abbreviated Injury Scale >2 em crânio, tórax e/ou extremidades). Em seguida estudou-se o resultado da ultrassonografia no grupo de pacientes com todas as variáveis clínicas avaliadas. Resultados: estudamos 5536 vítimas de trauma fechado. Lesões intra-abdominais com AIS>1 foram identificadas em 144 (2,6%) casos; em pacientes com estabilidade hemodinâmica, estavam presentes em 86 (2%); naqueles com estabilidade hemodinâmica e exame neurológico normal à admissão em 50 (1,8%); nos casos com estabilidade hemodinâmica, exame neurológico e do tórax normais à admissão em 39 (1,5%); em pacientes com estabilidade hemodinâmica e com exame neurológico, do tórax, do abdome e da pelve normais em 12 (0,5%); naqueles com estabilidade hemodinâmica e com exame neurológico, do tórax, do abdome e da pelve normais e ausência de lesões distrativas, em apenas dois (0,1%) pacientes. Nos pacientes com todas as variáveis clínicas, 693 apresentavam ultrassonografia abdominal completa normal e, neste grupo, não foram identificadas lesões intra-abdominais posteriormente. Conclusão: pela somatória de critérios clínicos e ultrassonografia abdominal completa, é possível identificar um grupo de vítimas de trauma fechado com baixa chance de apresentar lesões intra-abdominais significativas.

Complementary exams in blunt torso trauma. Perform only radiographs and fast: is it safe? / Exames complementares na condução do trauma contuso do tronco. É seguro realizar apenas radiografias e fast?

ABSTRACTObjective:to evaluate effectiveness of using chest X-ray (CXR), pelvis X-ray (RXP) and FAST (Focused Abdominal Sonography on Trauma) to exclude significant lesions of the body in blunt trauma.Methods:a prospective study involving 74 patients whom made the three tests (CXR, RXP and FAST) during the initial evaluation between October 2013 and February 2014. The results were compared to the tomography of the same patients or clinical outcome. If the patient did not have alterations on the CT scans or during the observation time, the initial workup was considered safe. All patients were evaluated at the Hospital João XXIII, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.Results:of the 74 patients studied the average age was 33 years, RTS: 6.98, ECG: 12. From 44 (59.45%) patients with exams (radiographs and FAST) unchanged, three had significant injuries (two splenic injuries and one liver injury) diagnosed by clinical monitoring. The remaining patients - 30 (40.55%) - had at least one alteration in conventional tests. Of these group 27 (90%) had significant injuries and three (10%) minor injuries. The sensitivity of all three tests for screening considerable lesions was 90% and the specificity was 93%. The negative predictive value was 93% and the positive predictive value 89%.Conclusion:this research showed that all the three exams - chest X-ray, pelvis and FAST - are safe to lead with the blunt trauma if well used and associated with clinical examination.

RESUMOObjetivo:avaliar a efetividade do uso da radiografia de tórax (RxT), pelve (RxP) e FAST (Focused Abdominal Sonography on Trauma) em excluir lesões significativas do tronco no trauma contuso.Métodos:estudo prospectivo envolvendo 74 pacientes no período de outubro de 2013 a fevereiro de 2014 que fizeram, durante a avaliação inicial, os três exames (RxT, RxP e FAST). Os resultados destes exames foram comparados à tomografia de tronco do mesmo paciente ou com a sua evolução clínica com base no tempo de observação protocolado pelo hospital. Todos os pacientes foram atendidos no Hospital João XXIII, Belo Horizonte/MG, Brasil.Resultados:Dos 74 pacientes estudados, a média de idade foi 33 anos, RTS: 6,98, Escala de Coma de Glasgow (ECG): 12. Desses, 44 (59,45%) possuíram os exames (radiografias e FAST) sem alterações, porém três pacientes desse grupo apresentaram lesões importantes (duas lesões esplênicas e uma hepática) suspeitadas através do acompanhamento clínico e definidas pela tomografia posterior. O restante dos pacientes, 30 (40,55%), tiveram pelo menos uma alteração nos exames convencionais, sendo que, dentro desse grupo, 27 (90%) apresentaram lesões significativas e três (10%) lesões leves. A sensibilidade do conjunto dos três exames para triagem de lesões significativas foi 90% e sua especificidade, 93%. O valor preditivo negativo encontrado foi 93% e o valor preditivo positivo, de 89%.Conclusão:O estudo demonstrou que o conjunto dos três exames (radiografia de tórax, pelve e FAST) é seguro para conduzir o trauma contuso do tronco, se for bem utilizado, associado ao exame clínico.

Successful anesthetic management in a child after traumatic rupture of left main bronchus by a single-lumen cuffed-endotracheal tube.

Tracheobronchial injury (TBI) may lead to catastrophe if remains undetected or managed improperly. The incidence of TBI is less in children as compared with adults due to their pliable chest wall. Its clinical manifestations include persistent pneumothorax, cervical subcutaneous emphysema, pneumomediastinum, cyanosis, and respiratory insufficiency. The recommended airway management is to intubate the healthy bronchus with a single‑lumen or double‑lumen endotracheal tube (ET) and bypassing the injured side. We report successful anesthetic management of traumatic rupture of the left main bronchus in a child by using a single‑lumen cuffed‑ET. Many factors affect the outcome of such injuries and include the extent of the lesion, the resulting pulmonary status, the adequacy of surgical reconstruction. More severe injury may require lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Early diagnosis and proper management result in good functional outcome.

Multidetector CT Findings of Bowel Transection in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

OBJECTIVE: Though a number of CT findings of bowel and mesenteric injuries in blunt abdominal trauma are described in literature, no studies on the specific CT signs of a transected bowel have been published. In the present study we describe the incidence and new CT signs of bowel transection in blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the incidence of bowel transection in 513 patients admitted for blunt abdominal trauma who underwent multidetector CT (MDCT). The MDCT findings of 8 patients with a surgically proven complete bowel transection were assessed retrospectively. We report novel CT signs that are unique for transection, such as complete cutoff sign (transection of bowel loop), Janus sign (abnormal dual bowel wall enhancement, both increased and decreased), and fecal spillage. RESULTS: The incidence of bowel transection in blunt abdominal trauma was 1.56%. In eight cases of bowel transection, percentage of CT signs unique for bowel transection were as follows: complete cutoff in 8 (100%), Janus sign in 6 (100%, excluding duodenal injury), and fecal spillage in 2 (25%). The combination of complete cutoff and Janus sign were highly specific findings in patients with bowel transection. CONCLUSION: Complete cut off and Janus sign are the unique CT findings to help detect bowel transection in blunt abdominal trauma and recognition of these findings enables an accurate and prompt diagnosis for emergency laparotomy leading to reduced mortality and morbidity.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair with the Chimney Technique for Blunt Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Aortic Arch in a No-Option Patient

A 42-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle collision. Imaging studies revealed the presence of a post-traumatic aortic pseudo-aneurysm (about 34x26 cm) arising from the descending thoracic aorta at the level of the left subclavian artery (LSA), prone to rupture. Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) was the only feasible option due to his poor overall medical status. In this case, LSA needed to be covered in order to extend the proximal landing zone. Eventually, modified TEVAR was successfully performed by means of the chimney technique to preserve flow to the LSA and to prevent flow into the pseudoaneurysmal sac.

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries: a review of the literature

Blunt cerebrovascular injuries [BCVI] have been a topic of interest to many researchers worldwide as evidenced by the vast amount of available literature. The interest in these rare injuries is probably due to the significant possibility of mortality and morbidity amongst patients who sustain them, when the employment of radiological screening methods could prevent such an outcome. Recognition of these injuries is the most important step towards prevention of adverse outcomes. We present a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the mechanism of injury, imaging, management, and complications of BCVI. Articles were identified through a search of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using the keywords Blunt; Vascular; Carotid; Vertebral; Trauma; Stroke; Management, and Endovascular. The search was limited to humans and articles in English

Computed tomography in blunt chest trauma.

Objective. To assess the role of multidetector spiral CT in patients with blunt chest trauma. Methods. Forty-two patients (38 males and four females), age range from 6 to 80 years, of blunt chest trauma were evaluated with multidetector computed tomogram (MDCT) after initial radiographs and the results were tabulated. Results. The most common mode of injury was motor vehicle accidents (64%). On computed tomography (CT), major injuries were haemothorax (83.33%), consolidation (66.6%), rib fractures (61.90%), pneumothorax (54.76%), diaphragmatic injury (30.95%), lung contusions (28.57%), spinal injury (16.66%), lacerations (9.52%), tracheo-bronchial injury (4.76%), mediastinal haematoma (4.76%), thoracic-aortic injury (4.76%) and oesophageal injury (2.38%). Operative intervention was performed in 11 (26.19%) patients. Of these, diaphragmatic rent repair was done in seven patients (63.63%), exploratory laparotomy alone was done in two (18.18%) and resection and anastomosis and polytetrafluoroethylene graft in one patient each. Three patients each with chest wall injury, thoracic vascular injury and diaphragmatic injury died; while only one patient with lung injury died. Conclusion. Multidetector computed tomogram is the modality of choice for rapid assessment of emergency chest trauma patients.

Neonate subcapsular splenic hematoma.

Splenic hematoma is an unusual event in newborn babies. The present study report a two day old infant who presented to us in shok with severe pallor and abdominal distension. Initially ultrasonography of evaluation by ultrasound (US) revealed a left adrenal hemorrhage but was subsequently confirmed to be a subcapsular splenic hematoma by computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen. This article highlights the utility of CT scan in diagnosis although review of literature shows ultrasonography to be primary screening investigative modality for abdominal visceral bleeds in the neonatal period.

Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma

To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound in detecting intraabdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The study was conducted in the department of radiology, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from 13[th] September 2006 to 29[th] September 2007. A total of 70 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were included. They all underwent Ultrasonography [US] followed by Computed Tomographic [CT] scan of abdomen. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of US in detecting intraabdominal injury were calculated keeping CT findings as gold standard. The cases in which laparotomy was performed; the surgical findings were taken as the standard. US examinations were positive in 34 patients. Of these, US showed free fluid in 18 [52.9%], and abdominal organ injury in 12 [35.3%] and only abdominal organ injury in 4 [11.8%]. True-positive findings were seen in 28 [82.35%] of these on CT and/or laparotomy. There were two false negative cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of US in detecting intraabdominal injury were 93.3%, 85.0%, 82.3%, 94.4% and 88.5%, respectively. Ultrasonography has high diagnostic performance in the screening of patients 2 with blunt abdominal trauma

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in blunt abdominal trauma

Patients in unstable clinical conditions with blunt abdominal trauma require rapid evaluation of the abdominal organ injury to assess the need for laparatomy. This prospective study was conducted to determine the use of emergency sonography for evaluating patients with blunt abdominal trauma and to compare the accuracy of sonography with the results of diagnostic peritoneal lavage [DPL], exploratory laparatomy and CTscan. Emergency sonography was performed prior to any of the diagnostic methods, peritoneal lavage, exploratory laparatomy and CT, on 204 patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Sonography was performed with the "focused abdominal sonography for trauma" [FAST] technique and six areas of the abdomen were examined to detect free peritoneal fluid. Sonography showed a sensitivity of 95.4%, specificity of 78.4% and an overall accuracy of 89% in the diagnosis of free peritoneal fluid. The positive and negative predictive values of sonography were 89.2% and 90.6%, respectively. Sonography is a reliable and accurate method for the emergency evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma

Blunt aortic injury.

Blunt aortic injury (BAI) is a lethal complication of blunt chest trauma. It accounts for up to 18.0% of deaths related to motor vehicle accident. Specific signs and symptoms are frequently absent. The majority of patients who sustain BAI die at the scene. Those who reach the hospital will survive if diagnosis and treatment is provided in timely manner. Several different techniques of repairing the BAI have been reported. Although endovascular grafts have gained much ground as an acceptable alternative to traditional surgical repair of aortic aneurysms, its application in the acute setting has been reported. We reported two cases of BAI successfully treated with endovascular graft in acute setting.