Effects on mortality, treatment, and time management as a result of routine use of total body computed tomography in blunt high-energy trauma patients

Abstract

Current literature has predominantly suboptimal design to prove terminally that the routine use of TBCT results in improved survival of blunt high-energy trauma patients. TBCT can give a change of treatment and improves time intervals in the emergency department as compared with its selective use.

Incidental findings on total-body CT scans in trauma patients

“…The main advantage of this total-body imaging concept is a quick and complete overview of traumatic injuries in all relevant body regions (head to pelvis) [1][2][3]. One of the most important disadvantages is the associated radiation exposure [4,5].…”

Complementary exams in blunt torso trauma. Perform only radiographs and fast: is it safe?

“…There is a lack of important randomized and controlled studies on the subject and there are articles that do not show an associated reduction in mortality 4 . In addition, there is literary support for the use of radiography and ultrasound, since they are validated methods and are used by the most accepted protocols and applied worldwide, in relation to the approach to trauma victims, as defined by ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support) 9 . Another important issue to consider is that the use of full-body CT scans during initial assessment does not eliminate the possibility of unnoticed injuries 8,10 .…”

“…There are other issues in literature that reinforce the safety of the conduct of cases through conventional studies, leaving the CT as an supplementary examination. Firstly, the effectiveness of the reduction in mortality by way ofa full-body CT scan during initial evaluation remains uncertain in literature [4][5][6][7][8][9] . There is a lack of important randomized and controlled studies on the subject and there are articles that do not show an associated reduction in mortality 4 .…”

Improving Outcomes in the Patient with Polytrauma

“…The relative sensitivity, time, and radiation dose of various WBCT scan protocols have not yet been studied sufficiently. Furthermore, there are persistent doubts about the clinical significance of additional injuries detected by WBCT and the mortality benefit of WBCT when compared with selective CT. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] This article provides a detailed overview of the current concepts surrounding WBCT in trauma.…”