Although computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis (A/P) can provide crucial information for managing blunt trauma patients, liberal and indiscriminant imaging is expensive, can delay critical interventions, and unnecessarily exposes patients to ionizing radiation.

Currently no definitive recommendations exist detailing which adult blunt trauma patients should receive A/P CT imaging and which patients may safely forego CT.

A decision instrument to guide A/P CT imaging of adult patients with blunt trauma could safely reduce CT imaging and associated radiographic charges, while also expediting trauma care and decreasing radiation exposure and its attendant risk of radiation-induced malignancy.

Our detailed approach should enable us to successfully develop and validate an instrument that can readily be used in the clinical environment.

Read More