Traumatic bowel and abdominal aortic injuries

Discussion:

This case has a few learning points:

  1. Bowel and mesenteric trauma is difficult to recognize on CT - this patient had substantial traumatic injuries to bowel and mesentery and the findings are underwhelming on CT. There are often occult with findings of unexplained free fluid / hematoma being the only real evidence. 
  2. Abdominal aortic injuries are rare, but in patients who survive to hospital intimal tears / dissections such as these are the most common. 
  3. Seatbelt sign is associated with severe intra-abdominal injuries. Its presence should increased diagnostic suspicion of these injuries. 
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