Authors urge caution in using this diagnostic tool for patients with blunt or penetrating trauma.
Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen is being used increasingly in trauma patients, and, although it is highly accurate, its use in certain patients might delay definitive care, specifically laparotomy. To determine the risk that performing abdominal CT will delay laparotomy, researchers reviewed data from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2002 through 2006. Patients (age, >14 years) with systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg on emergency department (ED) arrival and abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score >3 who underwent laparotomy within 90 minutes of ED arrival were included in the analysis. Patients transferred from other hospitals and those with significant brain injury (head AIS score >3) were excluded.
Among 3218 patients, the …