Diagnostic radiology on multiple injured patients: Interdisciplinary management.

The presence of a radiologist within the admitting area of an emergency dep artment and his capability as a member of the trauma team have a major impa ct on the role of diagnostic radiology in trauma care. The knowledge of cli nical decision criteria, algorithms, and standards of patient care are esse ntial for the acceptance within a trauma team. We present an interdisciplin ary management concept of diagnostic radiology for trauma patients, which c omprises basic diagnosis, organ diagnosis, radiological ABC, and algorithms of early clinical care. It is the result of a prospective study comprising over 2000 documented multiple injured patients. The radiologist on a traum a team should support trauma surgery and anesthesia in diagnostic and clini cal work-up. The radiological ABC provides a structured approach for diagno stic imaging in all steps of the early clinical care of the multiple injure d patient. Radiological ABC requires a reevaluation in cases of equivocal f indings or difficulties in the clinical course. Direct communication of rad iological findings with the trauma team enables quick clinical decisions. I n addition, the radiologist can priority-oriented influence the therapy by using interventional procedures. The clinical radiologist is an active memb er of the interdisciplinary trauma team, not only providing diagnostic imag ing but also participating in clinical decisions.