Role of Computerized Tomography Scan in clinically suspected renal trauma

Abstract

introduction: Renal trauma is the most common urologic trauma and occurs in 8-10% of patients with significant blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma Aim of study: Is to evaluate role of CT scan as an initial investigation in clinically suspected blunt renal injuries. patient and method: A prospective study was carried out in Al-Sadir medical city in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf health directorate-Iraq over a period of one year from 1/10/2009 to 1/10/2010, on 53 patients with blunt abdominal trauma admitted to the casualty and referred for radiological assessment, all cases were examined by a specialized radiologist by US then underwent CT examination on basis of selection according to clinical criteria. Results: It showed majority of blunt trauma cases were young adults male, all cases due to RTAs, most of renal injuries are minor injuries; Right kidney was more vulnerable to trauma than left kidney. No contrast reaction was noticed among the patients, normal CT scan effectively exclude renal injury, no cases were missed, in comparison to U/S which is positive in 85% of cases and falsely negative in 14.3%. Blunt renal injuries were rarely associated with free fluid (only 14.3%).