Abstract
Background The practice of a routine repeat head computed tomographic scans in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is under question. The aim of our study was to evaluate the utility of a more than 1 repeat head computed tomography (M1CT) scans in patients with TBI. Methods We performed a 3-year analysis of a prospectively collected database of all TBI patients presenting to our level I trauma center. Patients who received M1CT scans were included. Findings and reason (without neurologic decline vs after neurologic decline) for M1CT were recorded. Primary outcome measure was neurosurgical intervention. Results A total of 296 patients that underwent M1CT were included. Of those, 291 patients (98.6%) had M1CT without a neurologic decline, and neurosurgical intervention was performed in 1 patient (.3%) who was inexaminable (Glasgow coma scale score = 6). The remaining (n = 5) had M1CT due to a neurologic decline; 4 patients (80%) of the 5 had worsening of ICH; and neurosurgical intervention was performed in 3 (75%) of the 4 patients. Conclusions The practice of multiple repeat head computed tomographic scans should be limited to inexaminable patients or patients with neurological deterioration.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1088-1094 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 210 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 2015 |
Keywords
- More than 1 repeat scans
- Neurologic decline
- Neurosurgical intervention
- Radiological progression
- Serial CT scans
- Traumatic brain injury
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery