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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 1/2018

01-02-2018 | Original Article

Early computed tomography or focused assessment with sonography in abdominal trauma: what are the leading opinions?

Authors: L. Grünherz, K. O. Jensen, V. Neuhaus, L. Mica, C. M. L. Werner, B. Ciritsis, C. Michelitsch, G. Osterhoff, H.-P. Simmen, K. Sprengel

Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

The initial assessment of severely injured patients in the resuscitation room requires a systematic and quickly performed survey. Whereas the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®)-based algorithm recommends focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) among others, recent studies report a survival advantage of early whole-body computed tomography (WBCT) in haemodynamically stable as well as unstable patients. This study assessed the opinions of trauma surgeons about the early use of WBCT in severely injured patients with abdominal trauma, and abdominal CT in patients with isolated abdominal trauma, during resuscitation room treatment.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was performed over 8 months. Members of the Swiss Society for Surgery and the Austrian and German associations for trauma surgery were invited to answer nine online questions.

Results

Overall, 175 trauma surgeons from 155 departments participated. For haemodynamically stable patients, most considered FAST (77.6%) and early CT (82.3%) to be the ideal diagnostic tools. For haemodynamically unstable patients, 93.4% considered FAST to be mandatory. For CT imaging in unstable patients, 47.5% agreed with the use of CT, whereas 52.5% rated early CT as not essential. For unstable patients with pathological FAST and clinical signs, 86.8% agreed to proceed with immediate laparotomy.

Conclusions

Most surgeons rely on early CT for haemodynamically stable patients with abdominal trauma, whereas FAST is performed with similar frequency and is prioritized in unstable patients. It seems that the results of recent studies supporting early WBCT have not yet found broad acceptance in the surgical community.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Early computed tomography or focused assessment with sonography in abdominal trauma: what are the leading opinions?
Authors
L. Grünherz
K. O. Jensen
V. Neuhaus
L. Mica
C. M. L. Werner
B. Ciritsis
C. Michelitsch
G. Osterhoff
H.-P. Simmen
K. Sprengel
Publication date
01-02-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1863-9933
Electronic ISSN: 1863-9941
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-017-0816-4

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