title: Outcomes of whole-body computed tomography in spinal cord-injured patients with sepsis.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of body computed tomography (CT) in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients with sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specialist acute care and rehabilitation SCI centre in United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with SCI and suspected or known sepsis, who had CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, over a 4-year period, were identified. Only patients who fulfilled the definition of sepsis or severe sepsis were included. Their medical notes and CT scans were reviewed and clinical outcomes and radiological findings recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients with sepsis were identified including seven categorised as having severe sepsis. A specific radiological diagnosis was found in three patients (14%) and non-specific findings were found in 15 patients (68%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although in the majority of cases, the findings were non-specific, a small number of patients had significant pathology identified by CT, which influenced their management significantly.
authors.affiliation: National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: de Heredia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belci
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, UK.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Meagher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult