Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) in Vascular Trauma

In the evaluation of trauma patients, computed tomo-graphy and CT angiography (CTA) are powerful non-invasive tools that provide a large amount of informa-tion in so little time that they have virtually replaced plain film radiography and catheter angiography. In our hospital, CTA has replaced catheter angiogra-phy for diagnosing most vascular injuries, resulting from penetrating and blunt trauma to head, neck, thorax, abdomen and extremities. This lecture will cover current imaging protocols with MSCT, the spectrum of diagnostic findings in vascular trauma and the role of CTA in the planning of vascular injury management.