Evaluation of non-contrast-enhanced CT in blunt abdominal trauma]

We compared the findings of noncontrast-enhanced CT with those of contrast-enhanced CT in 126 patients with blunt abdominal trauma to evaluate the usefulness of noncontrast-enhanced CT. In 112 of the patients, visceral injuries were confirmed by surgery or clinical follow-up including CT. Although noncontrast-enhanced CT diagnosed all patients with 12 intestinal injuries requiring immediate surgery, contrast-enhanced CT missed two of these patients because high density hematomas on noncontrast-enhanced CT became isodense after IV administration of contrast material. However, contrast-enhanced CT was superior to noncontrast-enhanced CT in the diagnosis of hepatic and renal injuries. A case of renal artery occlusion was only visualized on contrast-enhanced CT. We conclude that both noncontrast- and contrast-enhanced CT should be performed for the CT evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.     

交通伤中腹内脏器损伤的危险因素

目的：探讨交通伤所致腹部钝性闭合伤中腹内脏器损伤的早期诊断，分析腹部创伤的某些客观危险因素，提出初步诊断程序．方法：回顾分析二十年来收治钝性交通事故伤共６０１０例临床资料，其中５１８例为腹部闭合伤．以腹内伤为因变量进行统计学处理．结果：９项病理生理改变和腹部以外损伤状况为可能发生腹内脏器伤的危险因素．其中入院收缩压＜１２ｋＰａ、严重胸部创伤等７个参数与腹内脏器伤密切相关，可视为高危因素．结论：对具有任何高危因素或体检阳性者，应高度警惕腹内伤的发生，及时进行辅助性检查．详尽体检和病史分析具有重要意义．     

Computed tomography of blunt trauma to the gallbladder

The CT findings are reviewed in two patients with injuries to the gallbladder following blunt abdominal trauma. In one patient with a laceration of the cystic artery a large intraluminal clot was identified within the gallbladder associated with extensive hemoperitoneum. Another patient presented with extensive bile leakage into the peritoneal cavity 72 h after blunt trauma due to laceration of the fundus of the gallbladder. The clinical features of blunt trauma to the gallbladder and the utility of CT in this entity are reviewed.     

Blunt abdominal trauma: comparison of ultrasonography and computed tomography in a district general hospital

Ultrasonography has been proposed as a screening method for blunt abdominal trauma, but its specific role in comparison with other diagnostic modalities has yet to be defined. The aim of the present retrospective study was to compare the results of ultrasonography and CT of the abdomen in blunt trauma in a district general hospital. The hospital records of 25 patients who were admitted with blunt abdominal trauma to Southland Hospital, Invercargill, New Zealand, between January 1991 and November 1996 and who had both ultrasound and CT of the abdomen within 48 h of admission were reviewed. Ultrasound missed seven lesions in seven patients (7/25, 28%) compared with CT. Three of these were intestinal lesions that needed laparotomy. Ultrasound had a usefulness index of 1, 0.76, 0.72, 0.69 and 0, respectively, for detecting lesions of the kidneys, free intraperitoneal fluid, the liver, the spleen, and intestines. Although ultrasound can be used as an initial screening method for blunt abdominal trauma, CT is still the imaging modality of choice for detecting intra-abdominal lesions for stable patients in a district general hospital.     

腹部闭合性创伤的急诊CT评价

目的：探讨急诊CT扫描在腹部闭合性创伤中的应用价值。方法：收集整理经手术或临床证实的腹部闭合性创伤65例急诊CT检查的影像资料,进行回顾性分析,所有病例均行CT平扫。结果：腹部闭合性创伤的急诊CT扫描主要表现为混杂高密度影像,多伴腹腔出血。本组65例腹部闭合性创伤中,肝脏损伤15例、脾26例、肾13例,肠系膜与肠管损伤2例,膀胱破裂2例,复合性实质性脏器损伤7例。其中51例伴腹腔出血,22例合并肋骨骨折。结论：急症CT扫描对诊断腹部闭合性创伤具有很大的价值,能明确腹部脏器损伤的部位、程度及复合性脏器损伤等信息,以指导临床医师制定有效的治疗方案。     

Posttraumatic intestinal stenosis: radiographic and sonographic appearance

We report a case of posttraumatic intestinal stenosis (PIS), an uncommon sequela of blunt abdominal trauma, in which injury to the mesentery and bowel wall results in later focal ischemic stricture of that segment. We include CT images at the time of trauma, and barium meal and abdominal sonography obtained during the subsequent admission. Examination of the resected bowel loop showed transmural infarct and posttraumatic changes in the adjacent peritoneal fat. This is the first report which includes both imaging at the time of trauma and sonographic appearance of the narrowed bowel loop. Posttraumatic intestinal stenosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a narrowed bowel loop in a patient with a history of blunt abdominal trauma. Received 19 March 1996; Revision received 24 May 1996; Accepted 9 July 1996     

CT in post-traumatic hypoperfusion complex��a pictorial review

Hypoperfusion complex is an uncommon entity found on computed tomography (CT) of blunt trauma. It is more common in children compared to adults. Everyone should be aware of this entity to interact with clinicians to aid in triage and management of patients in view of poor prognosis. It is also important to prevent unnecessary laparotomies by confusing abdominal organ injuries. There are certain visceral and vascular findings described on abdominal CT that would alert the radiologist for this entity. This pictorial review should increase radiologists' awareness and recognition of the CT manifestations of hypoperfusion complex before an irreversible state of shock occurs in blunt abdominal trauma.     

CT cystography versus conventional cystography in evaluation of bladder injury.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the use of CT cystography, using retrograde filling of the bladder with diluted iodinated contrast material, versus conventional cystography to identify bladder injury in patients with hematuria after blunt abdominal trauma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria consisted of the adult hemodynamically stable abdominal trauma patient with hematuria referred for abdominopelvic CT and also being considered for cystography. An initial abdominopelvic CT scan using IV iodinated contrast material was obtained, as would have been done routinely in the trauma victim. A second CT scan through the pelvis was obtained after retrograde distention of the bladder with dilute iodinated contrast material. CT cystography revealing bladder injury was followed with appropriate therapy. CT cystograms not revealing injury were followed by conventional cystography. Results of patient outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Over a 21-month period from January 1995 through September 1996, CT cystography was performed on 55 patients who presented with hematuria after blunt abdominal trauma. Five of the 55 patients had bladder injury on CT cystography. The injury in each of these five patients was confirmed intraoperatively. In the remaining 50 patients, both CT and conventional cystography did not reveal bladder injury. CONCLUSION: CT cystography is an accurate method for evaluating bladder injury in the blunt abdominal trauma victim with hematuria. CT cystography, performed in conjunction with routine CT of the abdomen and pelvis for evaluating traumatic hematuria, would therefore preclude conventional cystograms in these patients.     

CT diagnosis of renal artery injury caused by blunt abdominal trauma

Controversy exists about the sensitivity of CT in the diagnosis of occlusion of the renal artery or one of its branches after blunt abdominal trauma. We report 10 cases in which contrast-enhanced CT was used to diagnose correctly either main (seven cases) or segmental (three cases) posttraumatic renal artery occlusion. The abnormality was proved angiographically and/or surgically in all cases. CT showed the absence of a nephrogram in the devascularized portion of the kidney in all 10 cases. A pyelogram was not shown on CT in the seven patients in whom the main renal artery was occluded, but was present in the three patients who had segmental arterial lesions. Termination of enhancement within the affected artery (renal artery cutoff sign) was observed in one patient, and a thin, peripheral rim of cortical enhancement in an otherwise unenhanced renal segment (rim sign) was observed in three patients. Retroperitoneal hematoma with renal displacement was present in nine patients. Our experience suggests that the absence of a nephrogram on contrast-enhanced CT scans is a useful sign of main or segmental renal arterial occlusion in patients with blunt abdominal trauma.     

外伤后迟发性膈疝合并胃坏死的CT诊断

目的探讨胸腹部外伤后迟发性膈疝所致胃坏死的CT表现特征。资料与方法回顾性分析6例经外科手术证实的闭合性胸腹部外伤后膈疝合并胃坏死患者的临床和CT检查资料。6例均行常规胸腹部CT平扫,除1例病情危重外,另5例均行双期增强扫描,图像分析结合多平面重组(MPR)和最大密度投影(MIP)等CT后处理技术。结果6例膈疝发生于外伤后3个月～6年不等,单侧发生,均为左侧。胃底坏死3例,小弯侧1例,大弯侧2例,其中1例伴穿孔。胃经膈肌破口进入胸腔,胃不同程度扩张,坏死区胃壁稍厚与未坏死部分分界较清楚;3例增强扫描早期坏死区不强化,其中1例周围胃动脉分支无对比剂充盈,延迟期坏死区轻度强化,2例增强早期轻度强化;胃坏死区周围脂肪层模糊、密度增高;1例胃腔内可见少量溢出对比剂,表现为动脉期斑点状高密度影;1例大弯侧穿孔处胃壁连续性中断,可见小缺口,胃内容物经缺口溢出;胸腔积液3例,其中1例穿孔者呈混杂密度。1例伴左肾疝入胸腔,1例伴局部陈旧性脾梗死。结论外伤后迟发性膈疝合并胃坏死具有一定的直接和间接特征性CT表现,运用合适的检查技术并正确认识胃坏死的CT征象有助于提高诊断准确率,为尽早手术治疗提供客观依据,避免全胃坏死等严重后果     

Post traumatic arterial occlusive mesenteric ischemia: a rare case report

Mesenteric ischemia is an uncommon condition with very high mortality rates characterized by inadequate blood supply, inflammatory injury, and subsequent necrosis of the bowel wall. Acute arterial mesenteric ischemia is usually caused by cardiac emboli, atherosclerotic vascular disease, aortic aneurysm, or dissection. We report a case of a 60-year-old male who presented to the accident and emergency department complaining of abdominal pain following blunt abdominal trauma. An urgent contrast enhanced computed tomography scan demonstrated superior mesenteric artery thrombosis with ischemic small bowel. Surgical intervention was carried out with resection of the necrotic bowel followed by anastomosis. Acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia needs to be considered in cases of blunt trauma presenting with abdominal pain. Proper early diagnosis and management is essential as it carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality.     

The halo sign and peripancreatic fluid: useful CT signs of hypovolaemic shock complex in adults

AIM: To report two new, useful computed tomography (CT) signs of the hypovolaemic shock complex (HSC) in adults admitted after blunt abdominal trauma: the halo sign (ring of fluid around a collapsed intra-hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC)), and peripancreatic retroperitoneal fluid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT images of 498 consecutive patients admitted after blunt abdominal trauma were reviewed, of which 27 had CT signs of the HSC. The CT images of these 27 patients were analysed. A control group of 101 patients examined using CT for suspected blunt abdominal trauma who did not have the HSC were chosen for comparison. RESULTS: The most common features involved the vascular compartment: diminished IVC diameter n = 27 a positive halo sign n = 21 diminished anteroposterior diameter of the aorta n = 13 and abnormal vascular enhancement n = 10. Peripancreatic retroperitoneal fluid in the absence of pancreatic injury, pancreatitis or pancreatic disease was observed in eight patients. Hollow visceral abnormalities included: diffuse increased mucosal enhancement of both the small and large bowel n = 19 diffuse thickening of the small bowel wall n =11 and small bowel dilatation n = 7. Solid visceral abnormalities included both decreased and or increased enhancement. Several concomitant intra- and extra-abdominal injuries were also identified. CONCLUSION: In the setting of blunt abdominal trauma, early abdominal CT can show diffuse abnormalities due to the HSC, which occasionally may alert clinicians of unsuspected shock. Recognition of these signs as distinguished from injured viscera is important in order to avoid unnecessary laparotomy. Two new signs are described: the halo sign and peripancreatic retroperitoneal fluid.     

Visceral injury without hemoperitoneum: A limitation of screening abdominal sonography for trauma

Abdominal sonography for the detection of hemoperitoneum has become increasingly popular as a screening test for visceral injury after blunt trauma. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, severity, and clinical significance (outcome) of abdominal organ injuries that occur without hemoperitoneum on the initial evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma patients.During a 12-month period, 3392 blunt trauma patients were admitted to our center. Sonographic studies were performed as an initial screening evaluation to determine the presence of hemoperitoneum in 772 (22.7%) of these patients. Abdominal visceral injuries were verified by computed tomography (CT) or surgery in 196 (5.8%) of all blunt trauma admissions. Sonography, CT, and operative findings were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum in patients with abdominal injury. Patients with abdominal visceral injury without hemoperitoneum were further analyzed to identify the type of injury and the management required.A total of 246 abdominal injuries were identified in 196 patients. Fifty (26%) patients with abdominal visceral injuries diagnosed by admission CT scan had no evidence of hemoperitoneum. Admission sonography performed in 15 (30%) of these 50 patients also showed no evidence of hemoperitoneum. Visceral injuries detected by CT in the patients without hemoperitoneum included 22 of 100 splenic injuries (22%), 18 of 91 hepatic injuries (20%), 12 of 26 renal injuries (46%), and 1 of 9 mesenteric injuries (11%). Surgery was required to manage injuries in 10 of these patients.Up to 26% of blunt trauma patients with abdominal visceral injuries do not have associated hemoperitoneum identified on admission abdominal CT or sonography. Dependence on hemoperitoneum as the sole criterion of abdominal visceral injury after blunt trauma will result in falsely negative examinations and will miss potentially significant injuries.     

Small bowel rupture after blunt trauma: Computed tomographic signs and their sensitivity

The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristic computed tomographic (CT) signs of small bowel perforation after blunt abdominal trauma and to evaluate their sensitivity. Nineteen preoperative CT scans were obtained from 16 patients with surgically proven small bowel rupture secondary to blunt abdominal trauma. Only the CT findings described in the original CT reports were used. Eleven of 19 CT scans (58 %) had findings that were unequivocal for bowel rupture (i.e., extraluminal air and/or extravasation of oral contrast medium). Seven CT scans (37 %) had findings that were suggestive of severe small bowel injury (i.e., focal small bowel wall thickening and/or free peritoneal fluid without other accompanying organ injuries). In all, 95 % of cases of small bowel rupture had either pathognomonic or suggestive CT findings. One CT scan did not demonstrate small bowel wall thickening, although a hemoperitoneum was present. CT is a sensitive method for suggesting severe small bowel injury and rupture secondary to blunt abdominal trauma.     

Inferior mesenteric artery branch avulsion from blunt trauma--CT findings. Case report.

Mesenteric arterial injuries are uncommon following blunt abdominal trauma. We describe the computed tomography (CT) findings of a patient with avulsion of a branch of the inferior mesenteric artery following a low-speed motor vehicle accident.     

Intestinal stenosis from mesenteric injury after blunt abdominal trauma

We report a case in which blunt abdominal trauma resulted in injury to the mesentery with subsequent ischemic stricture of the adjacent small bowel. We present CT images at the time of trauma and 5 weeks later when clinical signs of intestinal obstruction occurred. We include images of enteroclysis and angiography of this uncommon sequela of blunt abdominal trauma. At surgery, a stenotic small bowel loop was found adjacent to a healed defect in the mesentery. Histological examination of the resected segment showed mucosal and submucosal ischemia with mucosal ulceration, mural inflammation, and fibrosis. Posttraumatic intestinal stenosis subsequent to a mesenteric tear should be included in the differential diagnosis in a patient with a history of blunt abdominal trauma and signs of intestinal obstruction. Received: 10 July 1998; Revision received: 14 October 1998; Accepted: 18 November 1998     

Multidetector CT evaluation of abdominal trauma

CT is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate blunt abdominal trauma. With the advent of multidetector CT (MDCT), scanning times have progressively decreased while image resolution has increased owing to thinner collimation and reduced partial volume and motion artifacts. MDCT also allows high quality two-dimensional and three-dimensional multiplanar reformatted images to be obtained, which aid in the diagnosis of the complex multisystem injuries seen in the trauma patient. This article describes the authors' current imaging protocol with 16-detector MDCT, the spectrum of CT findings seen in patients with blunt abdominal injuries, and the role MDCT has in guiding injury management.     

Prospective evaluation of handheld ultrasound in the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the Sonosite 180 handheld ultrasound in the diagnosis of haemoperitoneum in blunt abdominal trauma. METHODS: Trauma ultrasound using the Focused Assessment with Sonar for Trauma (FAST) technique was performed using the Sonosite 180 handheld ultrasound during the primary survey of adult patients triaged to the resuscitation room with multiple trauma or suspected abdominal injury. The ultrasound findings were compared against the investigation of choice of the attending surgeon/accident & emergency physician--CT, DPL, laparotomy or clinical observation. RESULTS: 50 patients who had sustained blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated using FAST. Satisfactory images were obtained in 96%. There were 5 true positive scans confirmed by CT, DPL or laparotomy. There were no false negative or false investigations. The sensitivity and specificity of handheld FAST was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Handheld ultrasound using the Sonosite 180 system can be successfully used by appropriately trained doctors as the primary investigation in the acute evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.     

Pearls and pitfalls of hepatobiliary and splenic trauma: what every trauma radiologist needs to know

With the universal acceptance of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) as the imaging modality of first resort in the assessment of blunt abdominal injury, the trauma radiologist must be able to accurately and rapidly identify the range of CT manifestations of the traumatized abdomen. In this article, we lay out the fundamental principles in CT interpretation of blunt trauma to the hepatobiliary system and spleen, including vascular injury, with a focus on technical and interpretive pearls and pitfalls. This review will help radiologists and trainees become more familiar with key aspects of abdominal CT trauma protocol selection, CT-based solid organ injury grading, and the various appearances and mimics of hepatobiliary and splenic injury.     

Pediatric blunt abdominal trauma: periportal tracking at CT.

Periportal zones of decreased attenuation at computed tomography (CT) have been described in a variety of disorders. In the setting of blunt abdominal trauma, the zones have been attributed to dissection of blood along the portal tracts. Because of the observation of isolated periportal tracking (PPT) in children after blunt trauma, the authors retrospectively reviewed CT scans of the abdomen obtained in 114 children to determine the frequency of PPT, liver injury, and peritoneal fluid. PPT was present in 22% of patients (25 of 114); it was associated with liver injury in 10 and was the only liver abnormality in 15. Pathologic correlation was available in two patients: In one it revealed marked periportal lymphedema and in the other, PPT of blood. This study indicates that both hemorrhage and lymphatic edema may be represented as PPT in children after blunt abdominal injury.