Blunt Thoracic Aortic Trauma

Abstract

Aortography gains additional quality life at minimal cost when used as a screening method for all patients with blunt chest trauma regardless of the results of the initial chest radiograph. With a normal initial chest radiograph, transesophageal echocardiography and dynamic chest computed tomography are associated with increased cost and loss of quality-adjusted life.

Multidetector-Row Computerized Tomography of Aortic Injury

“…The sensitivity, specificity, and negative-predictive value of TAI by conventional "step and shoot" scanners was not acceptable and the use of CT for screening was thought to be a waste of valuable time. 28,29 Most of the early literature citing falsenegative CTs were due to collimation greater than 5 mm or poor injection techniques. Most studies of the time were using 10-mm collimation and low injection rates.…”