The role of oral contrast administration immediately prior to the computed tomographic evaluation of the blunt trauma victim

Background: It is unclear whether the administration of oral contrast followed by immediate computerised tomographic (CT) scanning presents a significant risk of aspiration and whether it is useful in the diagnosis of hollow viscus injury. Objective: Determine the number of intestinal perforations diagnosed by oral contrast enhanced CT scans for blunt trauma and identify those who developed aspiration pneumonitis causally related to oral contrast administration. Methods: We analysed a database of consecutive blunt trauma admissions over a 2-year period. The majority received oral contrast immediately prior to CT scanning. We determined the number of intestinal perforations identified by abdominal CT confirmed at laparatomy and the number of cases of aspiration pneumonia. Results: Nine (1%) of the 1173 CT scans identified enteric perforations. Oral contrast enhanced CT scans demonstrated pneumoperitoneum (3), extraluminal contrast extravasation (2), and the presence of free fluid with small bowel wall thickening (8). In this same cohort, eight (0.7%) cases of aspiration pneumonia were diagnosed within 48 h of admission in patients with a mean GCS of 4.25; only one (0.1%) was temporally related to oral contrast administration. In a prospective study, none of the 65 consecutive patients who received oral contrast had witnessed aspiration. Conclusions: Oral contrast administration given immediately prior to CT scanning does not increase the risk of clinically significant aspiration and assists in the detection of enteric perforation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.