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Advanced Trauma Life Support®. ABCDE from a radiological point of view

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Abstract

Accidents are the primary cause of death in patients aged 45 years or younger. In many countries, Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) is the foundation on which trauma care is based. We will summarize the principles and the radiological aspects of the ATLS®, and we will discuss discrepancies with day to day practice and the radiological literature. Because the ATLS® is neither thorough nor up-to-date concerning several parts of radiology in trauma, it should not be adopted without serious attention to defining the indications and limitations pertaining to diagnostic imaging.

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Abbreviations

ATLS®:

Advanced Trauma Life Support®

FAST:

focused abdominal sonography in trauma

A:

airway

B:

breathing

C:

circulation

D:

disability

E:

environment and exposure

CT:

computed tomography

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Correspondence to Digna R. Kool.

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Kool, D.R., Blickman, J.G. Advanced Trauma Life Support®. ABCDE from a radiological point of view. Emerg Radiol 14, 135–141 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-007-0633-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-007-0633-x

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