ROLE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN EVALUATION OF BLUNT INJURY ABDOMEN

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to assess the role of multi slice computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of patients with blunt injury abdomen and describe the frequency, type of injury to visceral organs and aid in accurate management of the patients. Subjects And Methods: The study included 31 patients suspected of blunt abdominal injury referred from emergency unit of PESIMSR, Kuppam. All the patients subjected to contrast enhanced multi slice (CT) in axial cuts and images are transferred to workstation then coronal and sagittal reconstruction obtained . Data included were age, sex, mode of injury and scan results. Organs injures were graded according to AAST organ injury scale guidelines. Results: There were 26 male and 6 female patients having blunt injury abdomen. Majority of the patients between the age group of 18 to 40. Most common mode of injury was road trafc accident (RT). Most commonly injured organ was spleen (18) followed by liver (17) followed by kidney injury (10). Hemoperitoneum is seen in most of the individuals (27). Pelvic bone fracture was seen in 6 patients,rib fracture seen in 5 patients and spinal fracture seen in 3 patients. Pancreatic body contusion was seen in one individual. Paralytic ileus and pneumoperitoneum seen in one each. Vascular injury was seen in 7 patients with IVC thrombus (1 patient) and portal vein thrombus (1 patient). Adrenal hematoma was seen in 4 patients. Conclusion: Contrast enhanced multi slice CT is a useful modality in identifying organ injury in blunt injury abdomen. Most commonly involved organ being spleen, liver and kidney. Majority of the trauma is due to RTA.