J Korean Surg Soc.  1999 Mar;56(3):362-368.

The Efficacy of Emergency Ultrasonography in Blunt Abdominal Trauma

• You JY
• Cho SJ
• Choi OK
• Jung KY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma is clinically challenging. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and computed tomographic (CT) scanning have become primary diagnostic modalities. We examined the efficacy and the role of ultrasonographic (US) studies in the initial abdominal evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma.
METHODS
We, therefore, retrospectively reviewed 87 patients who sustained blunt abdominal trauma from October 1996 to August 1997.
RESULTS
Ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 89.7% and a specificity of 98.3%. The accuracy was 95.4%. The positive predictive value was 96.3%, and the negative predictive value was 95.0%.
CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography saves time and money, can be performed in the emergency department, shows high sensitivity and specificity, and is the best method of first choice in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. We believe that abdominal US should be considered an important tool and an integral part in the work-up for major trauma victims.

Keyword

Blunt abdominal trauma; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital
Humans
Peritoneal Lavage
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography*