Karen L. Killeen

Helical Computed tomography of bowel and mesenteric injuries

BACKGROUND The role of computed tomography in diagnosing hollow viscus injury after blunt abdominal trauma remains controversial, with previous studies reporting both high accuracy and poor results. This study was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of helical computed tomography in detecting bowel and mesenteric injuries after blunt abdominal trauma in a large cohort of patients. METHODS One hundred fifty patients were admitted to our Level I trauma center over a 4-year period with computed tomographic (CT) scan or surgical diagnosis of bowel or mesenteric injury. CT scan findings were retrospectively graded as negative, nonsurgical, or surgical bowel or mesenteric injury. The CT scan diagnosis was then compared with surgical findings, which were also graded as negative, nonsurgical, or surgical. RESULTS Computed tomography had an overall sensitivity of 94% in detecting bowel injury and 96% in detecting mesenteric injury. Surgical bowel cases were correctly differentiated in 64 of 74 cases (86%), and surgical mesenteric cases were correctly differentiated from nonsurgical in 57 of 76 cases (75%). CONCLUSION Helical CT scanning is very accurate in detecting bowel and mesenteric injuries, as well as in determining the need for surgical exploration in bowel injuries. However, it is less accurate in predicting the need for surgical exploration in mesenteric injuries alone.

Imaging of Diaphragmatic Injuries

Multiple imaging modalities are available for the preoperative diagnosis of diaphragmatic injury. Chest radiographs are the initial and most commonly performed imaging study to evaluate the diaphragm after trauma. When chest radiography is indeterminate, spiral computed tomography (CT) with thin sections and reformatted images is the next study of choice, particularly because most hemodynamically stable patients with blunt diaphragm injury will require an admission CT examination to evaluate the extent and anatomical sites of coexisting thoracoabdominal injuries. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to evaluate the diaphragm for patients with clinical suspicion but an indeterminate diagnosis after chest radiography and spiral CT.

Imaging of traumatic diaphragmatic injuries

Traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI) occurs in approximately 6% of patients after major blunt trauma to the abdomen. Detection of such injuries is often problematic because of nonspecific clinical signs and the presence of additional intra-abdominal injuries. As the use of nonsurgical management to treat solid organ injuries increases, helical computed tomography (CT) must play a much greater role in the detection of intra-abdominal injuries. Therefore, it is crucial that diaphragmatic injuries are not overlooked, as fewer will be diagnosed at exploratory laparotomy. This article reviews the recent advances in helical CT that are helpful in diagnosing TDI and addresses the selected application of magnetic resonance imaging.