title: CT of blunt trauma to the bowel and mesentery.
abstract: Injuries to the bowel and mesentery are found in approximately 5% of all patients undergoing laparotomy after blunt abdominal trauma. Bowel and mesenteric injuries are often subtle and difficult to diagnose, and a delay in the diagnosis is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. CT is the best imaging method for diagnosing injuries to the bowel and mesentery. With meticulous scanning techniques, most significant bowel and mesenteric injuries can be reliably identified with CT preoperatively, and associated injuries to other abdominal viscera can be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Nghiem
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mindelzun
mesh_terms: D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D008643:Mesentery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011027:Pneumoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*