结肠癌急性梗阻的治疗体会

目的：总结结肠癌急性梗阻的治疗经验。方法：回顾性分析了我院10年中急诊手术的结肠癌梗阻47例。结果：右半结肠癌22例，其中一期切除吻合15例，分期手术3例，捷径手术2例，肠造口2例。左半结肠癌24例，其中一期切除吻合4例，Hartmanns手术8例，结肠次全切除2例，一期造口、二期肿瘤切除5例，单纯造口术5例，另1例同时性结肠多原发癌行结肠次全切除。切口感染率为10．6％，其中一期切除吻合为15．8％；一期切除吻合吻合口漏2例（10．5％）；围手术期死亡2例（4．3％）。结论：结肠癌急性梗阻，应在积极术前准备的同时，尽早手术。右半结肠癌梗阻应在充分肠减压的基础上行I期切除吻合，左半结肠癌梗阻应首选Hartmanns手术。     

Small bowel injuries in penetrating abdominal trauma during war: ten-year follow-up findings

BACKGROUND: Injuries of the small intestine are common in penetrating abdominal trauma. This article presents 10-year follow-up results for 23 patients with penetrating small bowel injuries who were treated in Nova Gradiska City Hospital during the 1991-1992 war in Croatia. The early hospital mortality rate was 13% (three deaths), and good results were found for 16 (84%) of 19 patients after 10 years. METHODS: The hospital charts of 23 patients who sustained small bowel injuries during an 8-month period were reviewed. Of 20 patients who survived, 19 came for an examination and interview 10 years after injury. The following criteria were used: existence of an abdominal wall defect or hernia, bowel passage problems, and reoperations attributable to the small bowel injury. RESULTS: Early results revealed adhesive peritonitis and ileus for three patients demanding early reoperation (13%) and a hospital mortality rate of 13% (three deaths, mainly attributable to multiple injuries). Ten years after injury, 16 patients had no problems, whereas 3 reported occasional abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Penetrating abdominal injuries in war demand urgent diagnostic procedures and, in almost all cases, urgent laparotomy. In cases with no evidence of abdominal penetration and cases involving multiple injuries, an aggressive approach reduces the risk of missing small bowel injuries. Use of established principles for surgical management of small bowel injuries yields good results and low incidences of late complications and difficulties.     

Blunt bowel and mesenteric trauma: role of clinical signs along with CT findings in patients’ management

Background

Bowel and/or mesentery injuries represent the third most common injury among patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Delayed diagnosis increases morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of clinical signs along with CT findings as predictors of early surgical repair.

Material and methods

Between March 2014 and February 2017, charts and CT scans of consecutive patients treated for blunt abdominal trauma in two different trauma centers were reread by two experienced radiologists. We included all adult patients who underwent contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis with CT findings of blunt bowel and/or mesenteric injury (BBMI). We divided CT findings into two groups: the first included three highly specific CT signs and the second included six less specific CT signs indicated as “minor CT findings.” The presence of abdominal guarding and/or abdominal pain was considered as “clinical signs.” Reference standards included surgically proven BBMI and clinical follow-up. Association was evaluated by the chi-square test. A logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Thirty-four (4.1%) out of 831 patients who sustained blunt abdominal trauma had BBMI at CT. Twenty-one out of thirty-four patients (61.8%) underwent surgical repair; the remaining 13 were treated conservatively. Free fluid had a significant statistical association with surgery (p?=?0.0044). The presence of three or more minor CT findings was statistically associated with surgery (OR?=?8.1; 95% CI, 1.2–53.7). Abdominal guarding along with bowel wall discontinuity and extraluminal air had the highest positive predictive value (100 and 83.3%, respectively).

Conclusion

In patients without solid organ injury (SOI), the presence of free fluid along with abdominal guarding and three or more “minor CT findings” is a significant predictor of early surgical repair. The association of bowel wall discontinuity with extraluminal air warrants exploratory laparotomy.

     

War abdominal trauma: usefulness of Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index, Injury Severity Score, and number of injured abdominal organs as predictive factors

OBJECTIVE: To analyze predictive factors for developing complications or lethal outcome in war abdominal trauma. DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: We analyzed 93 cases of war penetrating abdominal trauma treated at the General Hospital Karlovac, Croatia. The following potential predictor variables were analyzed: age, sex, type of wound, Penetrating Abdominal Trauma Index (PATI), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and number of injured abdominal organs (NIAO). RESULTS: A total of 10.8% of wounded patients died and 25.8% developed complications. The overall average number of injured intra-abdominal organs was 2.0; in the group of patients with complications, the average was 3.0, and in the group of deceased patients, the average was 3.5. The most frequently injured organs were the small and large bowels. The significant predictors of developing complications as well as death outcome were the PATI, the ISS, and the NIAO. The best diagnostic efficiency (79.57%) for predicting complications was with the NIAO, whereas the best model for the prediction of death outcome combined all three variables (Z = -13.0776 + 0.1561 x PATI + 0.281 x ISS - 0.5234 x NIAO), with diagnostic efficiency of 92.47%. CONCLUSION: These models may be used as important prognostic factors in war abdominal injuries.     

Blunt abdominal trauma: clinical value of negative screening US scans

PURPOSE: To assess clinical and surgical outcomes in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and negative screening ultrasonographic (US) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a database of 4,000 patients who underwent screening US for suspected blunt abdominal trauma at a level 1 trauma center, the authors retrospectively identified 3,679 patients with negative US findings. In these patients, outcome was determined by means of retrospective review of the trauma registry and all radiologic, surgical, and autopsy reports. In patients with false-negative findings at screening US, all imaging studies and medical charts were also reviewed. Proportions were statistically compared by means of the Pearson chi(2) and Fisher exact tests. Monte Carlo estimation was applied when expected frequencies were low. RESULTS: Among the 3,679 patients with negative findings at screening US, 99.9% (n = 3,641) had no injuries (true-negative findings). Differences in true-negative rates as a function of year (P >.5) or time of day (P >.3) were not significant. Among the 3,641 patients with true-negative findings, 93.6% (n = 3,407) required no additional tests and 6.4% (n = 234) underwent computed tomography or other tests. The percentage of patients who underwent additional tests was significantly higher in the 1st year of the study (19.2%) than in subsequent years (all comparisons, P <.001). Thirty-eight patients had false-negative US findings for abdominal injury. The injuries that were missed in 24 patients were nonsurgical (those that were treated successfully without intervention or were considered minor at autopsy) and those in 14 patients were surgical (required surgical intervention). Cumulatively, 65 injuries were missed. The six most common injuries included retroperitoneal hematoma (n = 13) and injuries in the spleen (n = 10), liver (n = 9), kidney (n = 8), adrenal gland (n = 8), and small bowel (n = 7). Twenty-five of the 38 patients had no or trace hemoperitoneum. Mean diagnostic delay until recognition of missed injury was 16.8 hours +/- 4.3 (standard error of the mean). The missed injury was identified within 12 hours in 19 of the 38 patients and within 24 hours in 34. CONCLUSION: The combination of negative US findings and negative clinical observation virtually excludes abdominal injury in patients who are admitted and observed for at least 12-24 hours.     

War liver injuries

AIM: To provide a retrospective analysis of our results and experience in primary surgical treatment of subjects with war liver injuries. METHODS: From July 1991 to December 1999, 204 subjects with war liver injuries were treated. A total of 82.8% of the injured were with the liver injuries combined with the injuries of other organs. In 93.7%, the injuries were caused by fragments of explosive devices or bullets of various calibers. In 140 (68.6%) of the injured there were minor lesions (grade I to II), treated with simple repair or drainage. There were complex injuries of the liver (grade III-V) in 64 (31.4%) of the injured Those injuries required complex repair (hepatorrhaphy, hepatotomy, resection debridement, resection, packing alone). The technique ofperihepatic packing and planned reoperation had a crucial and life-saving role when severe bleeding was present. Routine peritoneal drainage was applied in all of the injured. Primary management of 74.0% of the injured was performed in war hospitals. RESULTS: After primary treatment, 72 (35.3%) of the injured were with postoperative complications. Reoperation was done in 66 injured. Total mortality rate in 204 injured was 18.1%. All the deceased had significant combined injuries. Mortality rates due to the liver injury of the grade III, IV and V were 16.6%, 70.0% and 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Complex liver injuries caused very high mortality rate and the management of the injured was delicate under war circumstances (if the injured reached the hospital alive). Our experience under war circumstances and with war surgeons of limited knowledge of the liver surgery and war surgery, confirmed that it was necessary to apply compressive abdominal packing alone or in combination with other techniques for hemostasis in the treatment of liver injuries grade III-V, resuscitation and rapid transportation to specialized hospitals.     

老年人结肠癌并急性肠梗阻86例外科处理分析

目的探讨老年人结肠癌并发急性肠梗阻的特点、诊断、外科处理方法与预后。方法回顾性分析我院2000年1月—2009年8月86例年龄>60岁的老年患者手术治疗的结肠癌并发急性肠梗阻病人的临床资料,其中一期切除吻合58例(右半结肠一期切除吻合39例,左半结肠一期切除吻合19例),分期手术19例(右半结肠4例,左半结肠15例),行Hartmann手术。肿瘤无法切除行单纯结肠造瘘和捷径手术9例。结果术后出现并发症8例,发生率为9.3%,其中切口感染3例,腹腔感染2例,肺部感染2例,感染性休克1例,1例死亡,病死率1.2%,85例痊愈出院。结论老年人结肠癌致肠梗阻的外科治疗要根据老年病人的具体情况选择合理的术式,准确的早期诊断,恰当的围术期处理,正确的手术方式的选择,是提高其预后的关键。     

Splenic trauma in adults: impact of CT grading on management

The impact of computed tomographic (CT) grading of splenic injury on case management was evaluated in 64 adult patients who underwent abdominal CT within 24 hours of blunt abdominal trauma. Severity of splenic parenchymal disruption and the presence of hemoperitoneum were each graded on a scale of 0-3 (maximal total score = 6). The splenic injury was graded retrospectively (stage 1) in 29 patients and prospectively (stage 2) in 35 patients. Patients who were treated surgically had a significantly higher score than those who were treated conservatively (3.8 vs 1.9 in stage 1, 4.1 vs 1.7 in stage 2, P less than .001 for both stages). Data analysis showed that patients with a splenic score of less than 2.5 can be treated safely without surgery, while patients with a splenic score of 2.5 or more are more likely to need surgery. In the latter group of patients, CT scoring did not change the operative rate (74% vs 75%) but did prompt earlier surgical intervention in stage 2. This significantly increased the rate at which spleen-saving operations were performed (from 21% to 67%, P less than .032) and the overall rate of splenic salvage. The CT scoring system used in this study appears to be a simple, reproducible, and useful method for quantitating splenic injury in blunt abdominal trauma.     

迟发表现的胃肠道创伤诊治分析

目的总结迟发表现的胃肠道创伤诊治病例,提高对此类损伤的认识和救治水平。方法回顾性分析2004年10月—2018年5月陆军军医大学西南医院收治的迟发胃肠道损伤患者17例,其中男性13例,女性4例;年龄17~58岁,平均39.3岁;道路交通伤9例,坠落伤5例,击打伤2例,砸伤1例。受伤当时表现不能确定胃肠道破裂,通过动态观察症状体征改变结合辅助检查后进行剖腹探查手术,受伤后2~21d手术后确诊。治疗方式:十二指肠破裂行引流,备二期修补,小肠和胃创伤行吻合术治疗,结肠损伤行造口治疗,二期再行吻合术。结果其中2例胃壁挫伤坏死,行部分切除修补;2例十二指肠破裂行引流、空肠造口;5例小肠破裂坏死行部分肠段切除,端端吻合;1例回肠破裂行造口。2例横结肠坏死行部分坏死切除近端造口,2例乙状结肠破裂,1例坏死行乙状结肠造口;2例回盲部和升结肠破裂行回肠造口;3~6个月再行造瘘吻合回纳。本组病例2例十二指肠破裂引流好转出院,其他均治愈。结论对迟发表现的胃肠道创伤病变应详细追问病史、连续动态观察、全面体检、合理辅助检查可较早发现并诊断此类损伤,及时手术可获得较好治疗效果。     

MDCT diagnosis of penetrating diaphragm injury

The purpose of the study was to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of multidetector CT (MDCT) in detection of diaphragmatic injury following penetrating trauma. Chest and abdominal CT examinations performed preoperatively in 136 patients after penetrating trauma to the torso with injury trajectory in close proximity to the diaphragm were reviewed by radiologists unaware of surgical findings. Signs associated with diaphragmatic injuries in penetrating trauma were noted. These signs were correlated with surgical diagnoses, and their sensitivity and specificity in assisting the diagnosis were calculated. CT confirmed diaphragmatic injury in 41 of 47 injuries (sensitivity, 87.2%), and an intact diaphragm in 71 of 98 patients (specificity, 72.4%). The overall accuracy of MDCT was 77%. The most accurate sign helping the diagnosis was contiguous injury on either side of the diaphragm in single-entry penetrating trauma (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 82%). Thus MDCT has high sensitivity and good specificity in detecting penetrating diaphragmatic injuries.     

Combined head and abdominal computed tomography for blunt trauma: which patients with minor head trauma benefit most?

The widespread availability of computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis and management of blunt trauma has created the possibility of overuse without clear indications. Some clinicians believe that patients with head injury, intoxication, and/or distracting injury have an unreliable abdominal examination and should undergo combined head and abdomen CT. The objective of this study was to evaluate which patients with minor head trauma benefit most from combined head and abdomen CT. Consecutive blunt trauma patients, with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) of 14 or 15, who underwent concomitant head and abdomen CT upon admission to a level I trauma center over a 2-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, physical exam, hospital course, and radiological and laboratory findings were recorded. Patients were divided into four subgroups based upon the presence or absence of intracranial and/or intraabdominal injury detected by CT. Among the 1,478 blunt head trauma patients, only 18 (1%) patients had both head and abdominal injuries detected by combined CT. One-hundred twelve (8%) patients had only head injuries, and 131 (9%) had only intraabdominal injuries detected. Patients with a GCS of 14 were more likely to have isolated head injury [odds ratio (OR) 3.1, P=0.001], while those with loss of consciousness were more likely to have combined head and intraabdominal injury (OR 6.8, P=0.03) or isolated head injury (OR 1.7, P=0.02). Abdominal tenderness was associated with increased risk of isolated intraabdominal injury (OR 1.8, P=0.0015). Hematuria was associated with increased risk of combined head and intraabdominal injury (OR 8.3, P=0.0004) or isolated intraabdominal injury (OR 7.9, P=0.0001). Patients with loss of consciousness and/or GCS of 14 frequently undergo head CT. The addition of an abdomen CT scan in this patient population should be based on objective clinical criteria such as presence of abdominal tenderness and/or hematuria.This work was presented at the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting, San Francisco, May 20, 2006.     

骨盆骨折合并腹部脏器损伤142例临床分析

目的 探讨骨盆骨折合并腹部脏器损伤的诊断与治疗。方法 回顾性总结15年收治的142例骨盆骨折合并腹部脏器损伤的致伤原因、手术方法及治疗结果。结果 本组病例全为多发伤,休克91例(64．1％),ISS均值35。手术治疗103例,保守治疗39例。剖腹探查91例,膀胱修补造瘘56例,肝、脾、肾填塞修补或切除45例,结直肠修补或造瘘12例,髂内动脉结扎42例,选择性动脉造影拴塞29例。本组死亡13例(9．2％)。结论 骨盆骨折合并腹部脏器损伤的治疗原则是迅速扩容,确定出血原因;及时的止血;尽早的骨盆固定。结合介入放射技术的应用,对提高抢救成功率、降低伤残率、减少死亡率有决定性意义。     

老年结肠癌致肠梗阻急诊一期左半结肠切除的疗效分析

目的探讨一期切除吻合术治疗左半结肠癌致急性肠梗阻的可行性和安全性。方法回顾性分析43例左半结肠癌致急性肠梗阻在不能术前行肠道准备的条件下,行急诊肿瘤切除一期肠吻合的病例资料。结果本组43例患者中发生切口感染5例,切口裂开3例,吻合口瘘1例。全部病例未出现围术期死亡,均痊愈出院。结论对老年左半结肠癌致急性肠梗阻患者采取一期切除吻合术,只要选择病例合适,完善术中及围术期处理,手术是可行和安全的。     

Screening US for blunt abdominal trauma: objective predictors of false-negative findings and missed injuries

PURPOSE: To determine the risk for missed injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and negative findings at screening ultrasonography (US) and with coexistent hematuria or fracture of the sixth through 12th ribs, lumbar spine, or pelvis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a database of 4,000 patients screened with US for blunt abdominal trauma at a level 1 trauma center, the 3,679 patients with negative US findings were retrospectively classified by consensus of two authors into high-risk (n = 494) and low-risk (n = 3,185) groups based on the presence of hypothetical predictors of missed injury: hematuria (n = 96) or fracture of the sixth through 12th ribs (n = 216), lumbar spine (n = 105), or pelvis (n = 174). Outcome in each patient was determined by the same two authors consensually after retrospective review of the trauma registry and all radiologic, surgical, and autopsy reports. The risk for missed abdominal injury was determined for each patient risk group and for each hypothetical predictor. Risks were statistically compared by using the Pearson chi2, Fisher exact, or Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test, depending on expected frequencies. RESULTS: High-risk patients were 24 times more likely to have abdominal injuries after negative US findings (30 [6.1%] of 494) than were low-risk patients (eight [0.25%] of 3,185) (P <.001). Among high-risk patients, the absolute risks for missed abdominal injury associated with specific predictors were 15.6% (15 of 96 patients) for hematuria, 6.0% (13 of 216) for lower rib fractures, 7.6% (eight of 105) for lumbar spine fractures, and 5.2% (nine of 174) for pelvic fractures. Each of these risks was significantly higher for patients in the high-risk group than for those in the low-risk group (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Hematuria and fracture of the lower ribs, lumbar spine, or pelvis are objective predictors of missed abdominal injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and negative US findings, and such patients may benefit from additional screening with computed tomography.     

Penetrating liver war injury: a report on 172 cases

During the 4-year military conflict in Croatia, we treated operatively 7,928 casualties. Of those casualties, 172 (2.2%) had penetrating liver injury, mostly sustained by explosive devices. Of these injuries, 90.7% were associated with the trauma of other abdominal and extra-abdominal organs. Seventy-five percent of injuries belonged to grades III and IV on the Liver Injury Scale. The main method of treatment was debridement with ligation of severed vessels and bile ducts. In 8.1% of cases with detrimental bleeding, we used liver packing. Fifty percent of these patients have survived but with a high incidence of septic complications. This method was proven salutary in the most detrimental injuries that could not be treated in any other way. Postoperative hemorrhage and intra-abdominal abscesses were complications that needed surgical and ultrasound-guided aspiration, respectively. Numerous heavy injuries of the liver combined with associated trauma of other vital organs are responsible for the high mortality rate of 28.5%.     

Blunt abdominal trauma: screening us in 2,693 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of screening abdominal ultrasonography (US) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with blunt abdominal trauma underwent US. The abdomen and pelvis were scanned for free fluid, the visceral organs were assessed for heterogeneity, and duplex US was performed if necessary. Empty bladders were filled with 200-300 mL of sterile saline through a Foley catheter. US findings were considered positive if free fluid was present or if parenchymal abnormalities that could be consistent with trauma were detected. Screening US results were compared with findings of diagnostic peritoneal lavage, repeat US, computed tomography (CT), cystography, surgery, and/or autopsy and/or the clinical course. RESULTS: Findings from 2,693 US examinations were evaluated and were positive in 145 of 172 patients with injuries (sensitivity, 84%) and 64 (89%) of 72 patients who ultimately underwent laparotomy with surgical repair of injuries. False-negative findings were retroperitoneal injury, bowel injury, and intraperitoneal solid organ injury without hemoperitoneum. No patient with false-negative findings died. Specificity of US was 96% (2,429 of 2,521 patients), and overall accuracy was 96% (2,574 of 2,693 patients). Positive predictive value was 61% (145 of 237 patients), and negative predictive value was 99% (2,429 of 2,456 patients). CONCLUSION: Abdominal US is useful in screening for injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and its use represents a notable change in institutional practice. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is rarely performed, and CT is used when screening US findings are positive, when injury is clinically suspected despite negative US findings, or when US is not available.     

Hypotensive patients with blunt abdominal trauma: performance of screening US

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the accuracy of screening ultrasonography (US) in patients with hypotension (systolic blood pressure or =2) (consensus by three readers) and were assigned to a low- or high-risk group according to the presence of hematuria and/or axial fracture on radiographs. Screening US results were compared with findings with the best available reference standard (computed tomography [CT]), repeat US, other diagnostic test, laparotomy, autopsy, clinical course). Data were compared by using chi(2) or Fisher exact test, depending on expected frequencies, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Continuous variables were compared by using unpaired Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, depending on data distribution. RESULTS: The study included 77 male and 51 female patients (mean age, 42 years). Sensitivity was 85% (44 of 52) for detection of any injuries, 97% (30 of 31) for surgical injuries (ie, injuries requiring surgery), and 100% (10 of 10) for fatal injuries. Specificity was 96% (73 of 76), 82% (80 of 97), and 69% (81 of 118), and accuracy was 91% (117 of 128), 86% (110 of 128), and 71% (91 of 128), for respective injury categories. One nonfatal surgical injury was missed in a high-risk patient. For each injury category, frequency of injury in patients with a fluid score of 2 or more was nine times that in patients with a score of 0 (P < .001 for all comparisons). Frequency of false-negative US findings in high-risk patients was eight times that in low-risk patients (P < .01). CONCLUSION: In patients who are hypotensive after blunt abdominal trauma and not hemodynamically stable enough to undergo diagnostic CT, negative US findings virtually exclude surgical injury, while positive US findings indicate surgical injury in 64% of cases.     

CT of bowel and mesenteric trauma in children.

Although most traumatic abdominal injuries in children are treated with conservative nonsurgical management, traumatic perforation or infarction of the gastrointestinal tract still necessitates surgical management. It is imperative to recognize the often subtle computed tomographic (CT) findings of bowel or mesenteric trauma in children. Pediatric patients with bowel perforation or infarction due to trauma usually demonstrate multiple abnormalities at CT. A specific history of lap belt injury, bicycle handlebar injury, or child abuse with an abdominal injury should heighten suspicion for a bowel injury. CT findings in children with bowel or mesenteric trauma include free intraperitoneal air, free retroperitoneal air, extraluminal oral contrast material, free intraperitoneal fluid, bowel wall defect, bowel wall thickening, mesenteric stranding, fluid at the mesenteric root, focal hematoma, active hemorrhage, and mesenteric pseudoaneurysm. Some findings, such as free intraperitoneal air and focal bowel wall thickening, are associated with a strong likelihood of a bowel injury that requires surgical repair. Other findings, such as free intraperitoneal fluid, mesenteric stranding, fluid at the mesenteric root, and focal hematoma, are less specific for an injury that requires surgical repair. The hypoperfusion complex can usually be differentiated from a traumatic bowel injury; however, in some patients the imaging findings overlap.     

Using contrast-enhanced helical CT to visualize arterial extravasation after blunt abdominal trauma: incidence and organ distribution.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the incidence and organ distribution of arterial extravasation identified using contrast-enhanced helical CT in patients who had sustained abdominal visceral injuries and pelvic fractures after blunt trauma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five hundred sixty-five consecutive patients from four level I trauma centers who had CT scans showing abdominal visceral injuries or pelvic fractures were included in this series. The presence or absence of arterial extravasation, as well as the anatomic sites of arterial extravasation, was noted. We obtained clinical follow-up data, including surgical or angiographic findings. RESULTS: In our series, 104 (18.4%) of 565 patients had arterial extravasation. Of the 104 patients, 81 (77.9%) underwent surgery, embolization, or both. The combined rate of surgery or embolization in patients with arterial extravasation was statistically higher than expected at all four institutions (p <0.001). The spleen was the most common organ injured, occurring in 277 (49.0%) of 565 patients, and arterial extravasation occurred in 49 (17.7%) of 277 patients with splenic injury. Several other visceral injuries were associated with arterial extravasation, including hepatic, renal, adrenal, and mesenteric injuries. CONCLUSION: Based on the limited reports of arterial extravasation in the nonhelical CT literature, the percentage (18%) of clinically stable patients in our study with CT scans showing arterial extravasation was higher than anticipated. This finding likely reflects the improved diagnostic capability of helical CT. Although the spleen and liver were the organs most commonly associated with arterial extravasation, radiologists should be aware that arterial extravasation may be associated with several other visceral injuries.     

Helical CT of diaphragmatic rupture caused by blunt trauma

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of helical CT with sagittal and coronal reformatted images in detecting diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest and abdominal helical CT scans obtained in 41 patients with suspected diaphragmatic injury after major blunt trauma were reviewed by three observers who were unaware of surgical findings. Coronal and sagittal reformatted images were reviewed for each patient as well. Findings consistent with diaphragmatic injury, such as waistlike constriction of abdominal viscera (i.e., the "collar sign"), intrathoracic herniation of abdominal contents, and diaphragmatic discontinuity were recorded. Sensitivity and specificity of helical CT were calculated on the basis of surgical findings and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Helical CT was performed preoperatively in 23 patients with diaphragmatic rupture (left, n = 17; right, n = 5; bilateral, n = 1). An additional 18 patients underwent helical CT to further evaluate suspicious findings seen on chest radiography at admission and were found to have an intact diaphragm. Sensitivity for detecting left-sided diaphragmatic rupture was 78% and specificity was 100%. Sensitivity for the detection of right-sided diaphragmatic rupture was 50% and specificity was 100%. The most common CT finding of diaphragmatic rupture was the collar sign, identified in 15 patients (sensitivity, 63%; specificity, 100%). Diaphragmatic discontinuity was seen in four patients. CONCLUSION: Helical CT, especially with the aid of reformatted images, is useful in the diagnosis of acute diaphragmatic rupture after blunt trauma. Helical CT can be used to detect 78% of left-sided and 50% of right-sided injuries.