A study on the early CT appearances of post-cardiac arrest patients shows two signs to be of importance – loss of boundary (LOB) between white and grey matter (at the level of the basal ganglia), and cortical sulcal effacement (SE). These features were more prevalent in patients who had > 20 minutes of arrest time and were associated with a worse neurological outcome at six months.
Early CT signs in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors: Temporal profile and
prognostic significance
Resuscitation. 2010 May;81(5):534-8
Tag Archives: radiology
Abnormal head CT in altered mental status
In a study of 674 patients with altered mental status who received a CT scan of the brain, logistic regression analysis identified a series of clinical factors that were associated with an abnormal CT result.
Factors with an adjusted odds ratio between 1 and 2.5 included GCS less than 15, focal weakness, diastolic blood pressure greater than 80mmHg and antiplatelet use.
Four variables were associated with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.5 or above. These included presence of headache, dilated pupils (either unilateral or bilateral), upgoing plantar response and anticoagulant use.
Identifying risk factors for an abnormal computed tomographic scan of the head among patients with altered mental status in the Emergency Department
Eur J Emerg Med. 2009 Sep 21. [Epub ahead of print]
Whole-body CT during trauma resuscitation
German trauma patients are more likely to survive if they have a whole body CT rather than selective scans. Or that’s what this paper would have you believe IF you’re happy with the retrospective comparison, multivariate adjustments, and potential confounders. Still, if it helps you get your radiologists to play ball, the reference is…
Effect of whole-body CT during trauma resuscitation on survival: a retrospective, multicentre studyLancet. 2009 Apr 25;373(9673):1455-61
Whole body CT in trauma
German trauma patients are more likely to survive if they have a whole body CT rather than selective scans. Or that’s what this paper would have you believe IF you’re happy with the retrospective comparison, multivariate adjustments, and potential confounders. Still, if it helps you get your radiologists to play ball, the reference is…
Effect of whole-body CT during trauma resuscitation on survival: a retrospective, multicentre study
Lancet. 2009 Apr 25;373(9673):1455-61