[Diagnosis of brain lesions and of early complications by CAT scan in traumatic patients in coma. Series of 265 cases (author's transl)].
In every patient admitted with a traumatic coma a CAT scan was performed immediately (less than 6 hours after the accident). As a routine procedure another scan was performed 48 hours later; further scans were done depending upon the clinical and ICP conditions. The patients were operated upon or given a medical treatment from the CAT scan analysis only. Until now the brainstem lesions have not been seen on the first day CAT scan images. The CAT scan performed on the second day will show a stabilization or an expansion of the previous lesions: haemorrhage or oedema. Any change in the patient condition or in the IPC monitoring must lead to a new CAT scan revealing epidural or subdural haematomas, hydrocephalus, subdural hygroma, persistent oedema. Therefore the CAT scanner used by a neurosurgical team must be able to work day and night.
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003128:Coma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Intérêt de la tomodensitométrie dans le diagnostic lésionnel et la surveillance précoce des traumatisés dans le coma. 265 observations (author's transl)]