Diagnoses Blunt Abdominal Injuries by Computed Tomography

Abstract

In Thailand, trauma is the second leading cause of death and cause of disability and death in younger adults. Blunt abdominal injury is common injury in accident. Common organs of injury in blunt abdominal injury are spleen, liver, kidney, and pancrease. Now many modalities were used for early triage of patients with blunt abdominal injury such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT) and diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL). CT-scan has high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in diagnoses of blunt abdominal injury. It is now widely used to examine abdominal injury because it enables complete imaging of abdominal organ and explain details of injury. Several classification systems of injury have been proposed based on etiologies and anatomy. The widely accepted organ injury scale is based on anatomical criteria because it can explain details of injury and guide to proper management. In conclusion, diagnosis of blunt abdominal injury is critical for decision making. Computed tomography abdomen is the main modality for evaluation of injury, it can explain details of injury, degree of severity, guideline for treatment and prognosis of disease.