Predicting the results and outcome of patients who undergo abdominal CT scanning while in the surgical intensive care unit.

Postlaparotomy patients who remain in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) are frequently suspected of harboring an intra-abdominal abscess (IAA). Computed Tomography (CT) of the abdomen has been advanced as an accurate method to diagnose an IAA. To determine the clinical parameters predictive of CT scan results, and the survival of such patients, this study reviewed a consecutive series of 29 postlaparotomy patients who were evaluated by abdominal CT scan while in the SICU. An IAA was identified significantly more frequently by CT when patients were explored for a GI malignancy (70% vs 30%; P < 0.05) and when patients were operated upon electively (11.1% vs 20.0%; P < 0.05). Postoperatively, alert patients were significantly more likely to have a CT scan positive for an IAA than were patients who were lethargic or nonresponsive (90% vs 10%; P < 0.05). Laboratory data, including radiographic studies, were not predictive of the CT scan results. A negative CT scan modified therapy in only 10.5 per cent of patients, while a positive scan altered therapy in 70 per cent of patients (P < 0.05). The overall survival for this group was 48.1 per cent. The identification of an IAA by CT scan did not significantly improve survival (42% with an IAA vs 40% without an IAA). APACHY II scores were significantly increased in nonsurvivors (17.4 +/- 6.0 survivors vs 23.76 +/- 7.8 nonsurvivors; P < 0.05). Our data indicate that in critically ill postlaparotomy SICU patients who were evaluated by abdominal CT scanning, there are some clinical clues that tend to predict whether or not CT scanning will identify an IAA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)