Harvard Catalyst Profiles

For splenic injury, previous literature touts the importance of multiphase (arterial and portal phase) CT imaging to help evaluate for parenchymal and vascular injuries, both contained (pseudoaneurysm and AVF) and uncontained (active extravasation). Additionally, distinction between contained and uncontained vascular injury was considered important as angioembolization is often used for contained injuries, and active bleeding has been correlated with surgical management, although angioembolization has been increasingly utilized in hemodynamically stable patients. Single pass split bolus CT is now being utilized more frequently while having the advantage of decreasing radiation exposure. The purpose of our study is to assess the diagnostic utility of single pass split bolus CT for blunt splenic trauma and determine if imaging findings can accurately determine appropriate management (observation/non-operative management (NOM), interventional radiology/angioembolization, surgery) and determine clinical outcomes. Role for the student would include medical records review, data collection, and data analysis.