CT Scanning for Diagnosing Blunt Ureteral and Ureteropelvic Junction Injuries
Author Information
Author(s): Sarah J Ortega, Fernando S Netto, Paul Hamilton, Peter Chu, Homer C Tien
Primary Institution: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Hypothesis
Subtle findings on abdominal CT scanning may suggest the need to further investigate ureteral integrity after blunt trauma, and may reduce the incidence of missed injuries.
Conclusion
Most blunt ureteral and UPJ injuries can be identified if delayed excretory CT scans are performed based on initial CT findings.
Supporting Evidence
- Eight patients had ureteral or UPJ injuries identified through CT scans.
- Subtle findings such as perinephric stranding and low density fluid were evident on initial scans.
- Seven out of eight patients had their injuries diagnosed immediately after follow-up scans.
Takeaway
Doctors can find injuries to the ureters better if they look closely at CT scans and do follow-up scans when they see certain signs.
Methodology
The study used trauma registry data to identify blunt trauma patients with ureteral or UPJ injuries and reviewed their clinical and CT findings.
Potential Biases
There may be bias in the initial interpretation of CT scans due to the presence of other significant injuries.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and based on a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
Five male and three female patients with a mean age of 48 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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