Initial ultrasonographic assessment for blunt abdominal trauma: is it a reliable diagnostic modality for emergency laparotomy?

Abdominal ultrasound has been proposed as a tool for the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrasound's ability to identify intraabdominal injuries that require surgical treatment. Data from 1463 patients were examined retrospectively during a 2-year time period, which were ultrasonographically evaluated for blunt abdominal injury. Hemoperitoneum and abdominal visceral injury were correctly detected by ultrasound with 88% sensitivity and 96.8% specificity. The results are in accordance with the international literature.