title: Spiral computed tomography demonstration of active haemorrhage in blunt abdominal trauma.
abstract: In blunt abdominal trauma, patients may still be actively bleeding despite being physiologically stable. Fast computed tomography scanning permits the detection of active haemorrhage by localising the site of extravasation of contrast enhanced blood. Though a specific sign of active bleeding, particularly arterial haemorrhage, it is insensitive to the slow, continuous venous oozing associated with retroperitoneal and pelvic skeletal injuries. However, its presence will have a critical influence on further surgical intervention. The imaging features of this uncommon entity are demonstrated in our case report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sitoh
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sitoh
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology