NEXUS Chest CT Decision Instrument for CT Imaging
Identifies blunt trauma patients with clinically significant thoracic injuries.
Use in awake, non-intubated, hemodynamically stable blunt trauma patients ≥15 years old in whom a CT chest is considered as part of the normal diagnostic evaluation.
If any criteria are positive, major or minor thoracic injury can NOT be excluded, and further workup, including but not limited to CT chest, is warranted.
Should be used in conjunction with standard trauma evaluation and resuscitation.
Clinical decision tools are meant to assist practitioners with making appropriate and evidence based decisions in the management of patients. The NEXUS CT Chest Decision Instrument suggests that a CT chest can be safely avoided in situations where the provider suspects thoracic injury, is considering CT imaging and answers negatively to the NEXUS CT Chest Decision Instrument. In these situations, the provider can feel confident that significant thoracic and intra-thoracic injuries are not missed.