Whole-body computed tomography in severely injured patients in shock increases survival

Multicentric study: Whole-body CT scans enhance targeted life-saving trauma management

2013-07-25

(Press-News.org) The analysis of data from the TraumaRegister® of the German Trauma Society (DGU) was performed by Stefan Huber-Wagner, MD, and colleagues in close cooperation with Professor Rolf Lefering, PhD, from the Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), University of Witten/Herdecke in Cologne. Data of 16,719 severely injured patients from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Slovenia were analyzed. The authors compared the observed and the expected mortality rate of severely injured patients with and without whole-body CT. The patients were divided in 3 groups: 1) patients with severe shock, 2) patients with moderate shock and 3) patients without shock. In hemodynamically stable patients, the advantage of early whole-body CT was demonstrated before by this research group. However, the CT scanning in hemodynamically instable patients is denied by many experts, although there was no scientific evidence so far. These experts hold the view that physical assessment, basic conventional radiography and sonography are sufficient for patients in shock and that the use of whole-body CT leads to considerable time delay before emergency surgery.

9,233 patients (55%) were examined with whole-body CT after admission to hospital. It takes between 3 and 6 minutes on average to conduct such an examination. 1,821 (11%) patients were in severe shock and 4,280 (26%) in moderate shock. Patients in shock who were diagnosed with whole-body CT showed significantly lower mortality rates. Furthermore, risk-adjusted mortality showed that the observed mortality in severely injured patients in shock was significantly lower with whole-body CT than the expected mortality, as compared to patients without whole-body CT. These calculations were based on the Revised Injury Severity Classification Score (RISC) which is a precise prognostic score in trauma care.

The authors conclude that their current concept in trauma care is justified and furthermore found interesting hints regarding emergency treatment and requirements for trauma centers. According to their results, the chance of survival in shock is increased by more than 25% if whole-body CT is performed. In spite of the supposed time delays caused by whole-body CT, the comprehensive knowledge of the complete injury pattern enables targeted life-saving emergency treatment. Strongly bleeding injuries can therefore be localized exactly and treated precisely. The cause shock can thus be detected quickest and most accurately.

Professor Peter Biberthaler, MD, Director of the Department of Trauma Surgery at University Hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar emphasizes: "With the required expertise, this innovative concept will probably lead to further decreased mortality rates of major trauma patients in the future."

INFORMATION:

Publication:

Huber-Wagner S, Biberthaler P, Häberle S, Wierer M, Dobritz M, Rummeny E, van Griensven M, Kanz KG, Lefering R, and the TraumaRegister DGU. Whole-body CT in haemodynamically unstable severely injured patients – A retrospective, multicentre study. PLOS ONE, 24th July, 2013; http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0068880

Contact:

Stefan Huber-Wagner, MD
Associate Professor
Klinikum rechts der Isar
Department of Trauma Surgery
Technische Universität München
Ismaninger Strasse 22
81675 Munich
Germany

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Whole-body computed tomography in severely injured patients in shock increases survival

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