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A large multicenter trauma registry study showed that 13% of patients with blunt bowel and mesenteric injury (BBMI) had normal computed tomography (CT) scans (J Trauma 2003; 54:295). However, a delay of more than 24 hours in the diagnosis and repair of BBMI is associated with 30% mortality (JW Emerg Med Jun 1 2000). Investigators compared the performance of 4-slice and 16-slice CT scanners in the diagnosis of BBMI at a single level I trauma center from November 2000 to December 2006 (4-slice CT scanners were used before July 2005, and 16-slice scanners were used thereafter).
Of 10,506 blunt trauma admissions, 82 patients (0.78%) had BBMI. Of these patients, 25 underwent laparotomy without CT based on findings of focused assessment with sonog…