Role of CT in Evaluation of Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

CT was regard as golden standard method for evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. CT allow good detection of any organ injury and determine its grade upon which the management will be performed. The aim of our study is to evaluate the role of CT in blunt abdominal trauma. This study included 50 patients presented with blunt abdominal trauma. Patients were subjected to clinical history and examination followed by MDCT scan with IV contrast. The results of our study proved that the liver was the most common injured organ representing 40%, spleen 30%, kidney 16%, peritoneum 8%, while the pancreas was the least common one representing only 2% of all our cases .Grade II hepatic injury was the most common representing 65% of patients with hepatic injury, also grade II splenic injury was the most common representing 73% of patients with splenic injury. Both grade I & II renal injuries were the most common each representing 37.5%. In our study 3 cases (6%) were detected having organ injury associated with active bleeding. We conclude that MDCT is the gold standard method for evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma as it play an important role not only in detection of organ injury, but also in the grading of this injury on which the management will be performed. Also it is important in the follow up of cases which undergo conservative treatment. In addition MDCT proved to be highly sensitive in detection of active hemorrhage which is a life threatening condition.