Influence of routine computed tomography on predicted survival from blunt thoracoabdominal trauma.

INTRODUCTION: Many scoring systems have been proposed to predict the survival of trauma patients. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of routine thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) on the predicted survival according to the trauma injury severity score (TRISS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1,047 patients who had sustained a high-energy blunt trauma over a 3-year period were prospectively included in the study. All patients underwent physical examination, conventional radiography of the chest, thoracolumbar spine and pelvis, abdominal sonography, and routine thoracoabdominal CT. From this group with routine CT, we prospectively defined a selective CT (sub)group for cases with abnormal physical examination and/or conventional radiography and/or sonography. Type and extent of injuries were recorded for both the selective and the routine CT groups. Based on the injuries found by the two different CT algorithms, we calculated the injury severity scores (ISS) and predicted survivals according to the TRISS methodology for the routine and the selective CT algorithms. RESULTS: Based on injuries detected by the selective CT algorithm, the mean ISS was 14.6, resulting in a predicted mortality of 12.5%. Because additional injuries were found by the routine CT algorithm, the mean ISS increased to 16.9, resulting in a predicted mortality of 13.7%. The actual observed mortality was 5.4%. CONCLUSION: Routine thoracoabdominal CT in high-energy blunt trauma patients reveals more injuries than a selective CT algorithm, resulting in a higher ISS. According to the TRISS, this results in higher predicted mortalities. Observed mortality, however, was significantly lower than predicted. The predicted survival according to MTOS seems to underestimate the actual survival when routine CT is used.

Emergency department radiology: reality or luxury? An international comparison.

Changes in society and developments within emergency care affect imaging in the emergency department. It is clear that radiologists have to be pro-active to even survive. High quality service is the goal, and if we are to add value to the diagnostic (and therapeutic) chain of healthcare, sub-specialization is the key, and, although specifically patient-oriented and not organ-based, emergency and trauma imaging is well suited for that. The development of emergency radiology in Europe and the United States is compared with emphasis on how different healthcare systems and medical cultures affect the utilization of Acute Care imaging.

Predictors of abnormal chest CT after blunt trauma: a critical appraisal of the literature.

AIM: To identify and to evaluate predictors that determine whether chest computed tomography (CT) is likely to reveal relevant injuries in adult blunt trauma patients. METHODS: After a comprehensive literature search for original studies on blunt chest injury diagnosis, two independent observers included studies on the accuracy of parameters derived from history, physical examination, or diagnostic imaging that might predict injuries at (multidetector row) CT in adults and that allowed construction of 2x2 contingency tables. For each article, methodological quality was scored and relevant predictors for injuries at CT were extracted. For each predictor, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) including 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: Of 147 articles initially identified, the observers included 10 original studies in consensus. Abnormalities at physical examination (abnormal respiratory effort, need for assisted ventilation, reduced airentry, coma, chest wall tenderness) and pelvic fractures were significant predictors (DOR: 2.1-6.7). The presence of any injuries at conventional radiography of the chest (eight articles) was a more powerful significant predictor (DOR: 2.2-37). Abnormal chest ultrasonography (four articles) was the most accurate predictor for chest injury at CT (DOR: 491-infinite). CONCLUSION: The current literature indicates that in blunt trauma patients with abnormal physical examination, abnormal conventional radiography, or abnormal ultrasonography of the chest, CT was likely to reveal relevant chest injuries. However, there was no strong evidence to suggest that CT could be omitted in patients without these criteria, or whether these findings are beneficial for patients.

Outcome after complicated minor head injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional outcome in patients with minor head injury with neurocranial traumatic findings on CT is largely unknown. We hypothesized that certain CT findings may be predictive of poor functional outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients from the CT in Head Injury Patients (CHIP) study with neurocranial traumatic CT findings were included. The CHIP study is a prospective, multicenter study of consecutive patients, > or =16 years of age, presenting within 24 hours of blunt head injury, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13-14 or a GCS score of 15 and a risk factor. Primary outcome was functional outcome according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Other outcome measures were the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), the Barthel Index (BI), and number and severity of postconcussive symptoms. The association between CT findings and outcome was assessed by using univariable and multivariable regression analysis. RESULTS: GOS was assessed in 237/312 patients (76%) at an average of 15 months after injury. There was full recovery in 150 patients (63%), moderate disability in 70 (30%), severe disability in 7 (3.0%), and death in 10 (4.2%). Outcome according to the mRS and BI was also favorable in most patients, but 82% of patients had postconcussive symptoms. Evidence of parenchymal damage was the only independent predictor of poor functional outcome (odds ratio = 1.89, P = .022). CONCLUSION: Patients with neurocranial complications after minor head injury generally make a good functional recovery, but postconcussive symptoms may persist. Evidence of parenchymal damage on CT was predictive of poor functional outcome.

A history of loss of consciousness or post-traumatic amnesia in minor head injury: "conditio sine qua non" or one of the risk factors?

OBJECTIVE: A history of loss of consciousness (LOC) or post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is commonly considered a prerequisite for minor head injury (MHI), although neurocranial complications also occur when LOC/PTA are absent, particularly in the presence of other risk factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether known risk factors for complications after MHI in the absence of LOC/PTA have the same predictive value as when LOC/PTA are present. METHODS: A prospective multicentre study was performed in four university hospitals between February 2002 and August 2004 of consecutive blunt head injury patients (> or = 16 years) presenting with a normal level of consciousness and a risk factor. Outcome measures were any neurocranial traumatic CT finding and neurosurgical intervention. Common odds ratios (OR) were estimated for each of the risk factors and tested for homogeneity. RESULTS: 2462 patients were included: 1708 with and 754 without LOC/PTA. Neurocranial traumatic findings on CT were present in 7.5% and were more common when LOC/PTA was present (8.7%). Neurosurgical intervention was required in 0.4%, irrespective of the presence of LOC/PTA. ORs were comparable across the two subgroups (p>0.05), except for clinical evidence of a skull fracture, with high ORs both when LOC/PTA was present (OR = 37, 95% CI 17 to 80) or absent (OR = 6.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 27). LOC and PTA had significant ORs of 1.9 (95% CI 1.0 to 2.7) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), respectively. CONCLUSION: Known risk factors have comparable ORs in MHI patients with or without LOC or PTA. MHI patients without LOC or PTA need to be explicitly considered in clinical guidelines.

An abused five-month-old girl: Hangman's fracture or congenital arch defect?

Hangman's fractures are a rare finding in childhood. In case of suspected or proven child abuse, differentiation with a congenital defect of the posterior arch of C2 is essential. We present the case of a 5-month-old girl, who had a history of being physically abused by one of her caretakers. On the lateral view of the cervical spine, a defect of the posterior elements of C2 and an anterolisthesis of C2 on C3 was seen. CT scan showed a bilateral defect in the posterior elements of C2. No soft-tissue swelling of hematoma was noted. MRI showed a normal signal intensity of the intervertebral disc C2-C3. No haematoma was noted. Clinical examination revealed a slight head lag and local tenderness; there were no neurological deficits. This case shows that the differentiation between a congenital C2 arch defect and a hangman's fracture is precarious. In this case the findings on MRI and CT scan were interpreted as a congenital posterior arch defect (spondylolysis).

[Good results of subfascial endoscopy as treatment of communicating vein insufficiency]. / Goede resultaten van subfasciale endoscopie als behandeling van insufficiënte Vv. perforantes.

Incompetent communicating or perforating veins are often responsible for recurrent varicose veins with skin changes at the lower leg, especially in the postthrombotic syndrome. Subcutaneous and subfascial surgical explorations carry a 35% complication rate. We used a new endoscopic technique to locate and ligate communicating veins with the objective to decrease this complication rate. Through a short skin incision on the anteromedial side of the proximal 1/3 of the lower leg the fascia is incised over 2 cm and the subfascial space opened by finger dissection. A mediastinoscope (length 18 cm; diameter 12 mm) is inserted and pushed down beneath the fascia to the level of the malleolus. Under direct vision the communicating veins crossing this space are located and ligated with haemoclips. In 48 patients, 15 male and 33 female, with a mean age of 53 (22-73) years, 54 legs were treated: 40 legs showed recurrent varicose veins, due to incompetent communicating veins with severe skin changes and ulcers, and 14 had primary varicosis. All patients complained of fatigue and pain. In 49 legs (44 patients) relief of preoperative complaints was obtained and in 5 (4 patients) there was no change. Two indurated wounds and 1 dehiscent wound were treated conservatively. One patient, operated on both legs, developed a severe subfascial infection on both sides necessitating a reintervention. The advantages of the subfascial endoscopic technique, a fast operative procedure, fewer postoperative wound infections (9.3%), a good cosmetic effect, and a low (2.5% after 3.8 years) recurrent ulcer rate make it a valuable new method for treating incompetent communicating veins.

Isocaloric feeding and medium chain triglycerides fail to improve liver function tests in a patient with Crohn's disease and a high output stoma.

A patient with Crohn's disease complicated by multiple fistulae to the skin and bladder and a high-output stoma following previous multiple short bowel resections developed liver dysfunction during total parenteral nutrition. Isocaloric feeding based on calorimetry and changing from a long chain triglyceride emulsion to a mixture of medium and long chain triglyceride emulsion failed to improve liver function. Surgical removal of the affected small bowel resulted in a rapid improvement of the liver function despite continuation of total parenteral nutrition.