Computed Tomography As A Guiding Tool In Thoracic Trauma Surgery: Clinical Outcomes And Challenges

Authors

  • Montzerrath Valencia Corona
  • Guido Vinicio Salazar Bustamante
  • María del Rosario Torres
  • Denisse Puentes Águila

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1900/fsn1fd07

Keywords:

thoracic trauma; computed tomography; pan-scan; CT angiography; aortic injury; clinical outcomes; thoracic surgery; TEVAR.

Abstract

Objective: To synthesize recent evidence (2020–2025) on the role of computed tomography (CT)—including whole-body CT and CT angiography—as a guiding tool in surgical decision-making of thoracic trauma, describing clinical outcomes and major challenges. Methods: Structured narrative review of guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and observational studies published in the last 5 years in English/Spanish. Results: CT accelerates the identification of major thoracic lesions, optimizes the indication of interventions (e.g., endovascular repair in aortic lesions), and is associated with improvements in care flow and, in some contexts, with reduced mortality compared to selective strategies; however, uncertainties persist about benefit in all subgroups, cumulative exposure to contrast/radiation, and over-detection of incidental findings. Conclusions: CT is a diagnostic-therapeutic mainstay in modern thoracic trauma and guides critical surgical decisions; additional pragmatic studies are required by subpopulations (elderly, low-impact polytrauma, penetrating trauma) and dose and contrast optimization protocols.

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Published

2025-09-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Computed Tomography As A Guiding Tool In Thoracic Trauma Surgery: Clinical Outcomes And Challenges. (2025). The Review of Diabetic Studies , 605-614. https://doi.org/10.1900/fsn1fd07

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