Trauma Diagnostics

Quick and accurate care helps calm your fears during a trauma

If you suffer from a traumatic injury, it’s important that your condition is assessed quickly. The most common cause of death after a trauma is hemorrhagic shock, or the loss of too much blood. Fast evaluation of internal bleeding or injuries is the key to developing the best treatment plan.

As soon as you arrive at the trauma center, the medical team will quickly evaluate and treat your injuries.

Cloud

The Cloud system allows for fast and secure transfer of your information and images between all IU Health hospitals as well as about-76 other hospitals in the state. If you or your loved one needs advanced care that the closest hospital does not provide, that hospital can send images of your injuries via the Cloud to another hospital. These images allow the team to prepare for your arrival even while you are still in transport.

Computed tomography (CT)

CT scans are a quick, noninvasive way for your doctor to evaluate your injuries. The scans use X-ray technology to take dozens of images of the body from multiple angles. These images can be looked at individually by a physician, allowing them a more detailed view.

Hybrid suite

For some traumas, you may need more than one type of procedure. Hybrid suites are specialized operating room where both interventional radiology and traditional surgeries can take place. This means you can have a traditional surgery on one part of the body while having a noninvasive procedure on another part of the body, at the same time. In a hybrid suite, you can quickly receive all the care you need in one place.

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques to perform minimally invasive or noninvasive procedures that can help stop bleeding without the need for surgery.

Your doctors can now spot bleeding using X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasounds. Then, a small incision is made in an artery, most commonly in the groin, and a coil or gel foam is guided up through the arteries to where the bleeding is occurring. The coil and foam allows blood to clot and stop the bleeding quickly without invasive surgery.

LifeLine critical care transport

If your injuries are severe, the LifeLine transport team members can use ultrasounds during transport to identify internal bleeding and injuries. They also carry blood to perform blood transfusions on the go. LifeLine team members call the hospital ahead of your arrival so the trauma team knows what to expect and can prepare for your emergency care.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI is a noninvasive and painless way to provide a more detailed view of your organs, bones and tissues, for vital information about your injuries. MRIs do not use any radiation; they use radiofrequency signals and magnets to create images of your body.


What To Expect From Trauma Diagnostics

As soon as you arrive at the trauma center, the medical team will quickly evaluate and treat your injuries.

Cloud

The Cloud system allows for fast and secure transfer of your information and images between all IU Health hospitals as well as about-76 other hospitals in the state. If you or your loved one needs advanced care that the closest hospital does not provide, that hospital can send images of your injuries via the Cloud to another hospital. These images allow the team to prepare for your arrival even while you are still in transport.

Computed tomography (CT)

CT scans are a quick, noninvasive way for your doctor to evaluate your injuries. The scans use X-ray technology to take dozens of images of the body from multiple angles. These images can be looked at individually by a physician, allowing them a more detailed view.

Hybrid suite

For some traumas, you may need more than one type of procedure. Hybrid suites are specialized operating room where both interventional radiology and traditional surgeries can take place. This means you can have a traditional surgery on one part of the body while having a noninvasive procedure on another part of the body, at the same time. In a hybrid suite, you can quickly receive all the care you need in one place.

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques to perform minimally invasive or noninvasive procedures that can help stop bleeding without the need for surgery.

Your doctors can now spot bleeding using X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasounds. Then, a small incision is made in an artery, most commonly in the groin, and a coil or gel foam is guided up through the arteries to where the bleeding is occurring. The coil and foam allows blood to clot and stop the bleeding quickly without invasive surgery.

LifeLine critical care transport

If your injuries are severe, the LifeLine transport team members can use ultrasounds during transport to identify internal bleeding and injuries. They also carry blood to perform blood transfusions on the go. LifeLine team members call the hospital ahead of your arrival so the trauma team knows what to expect and can prepare for your emergency care.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI is a noninvasive and painless way to provide a more detailed view of your organs, bones and tissues, for vital information about your injuries. MRIs do not use any radiation; they use radiofrequency signals and magnets to create images of your body.


If your loved one has experienced a traumatic injury, you may want to ask the following:

  • Will the injuries require hospitalization, or will they be able to be sent home soon?
  • What complications are possible for the diagnostic procedure recommended?
  • How long will the procedure take?

Questions To Ask Your Provider About Trauma Diagnostics

If your loved one has experienced a traumatic injury, you may want to ask the following:

  • Will the injuries require hospitalization, or will they be able to be sent home soon?
  • What complications are possible for the diagnostic procedure recommended?
  • How long will the procedure take?

Patient Stories for Trauma Diagnostics

Radiology Info

This site hosts detailed, easy-to-understand information on imaging procedures, how they work and what to expect when undergoing an imaging procedure.

Resources

Radiology Info

This site hosts detailed, easy-to-understand information on imaging procedures, how they work and what to expect when undergoing an imaging procedure.