Hypotensive patients with blunt abdominal trauma: performance of screening US

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the accuracy of screening ultrasonography (US) in patients with hypotension (systolic blood pressure or =2) (consensus by three readers) and were assigned to a low- or high-risk group according to the presence of hematuria and/or axial fracture on radiographs. Screening US results were compared with findings with the best available reference standard (computed tomography [CT]), repeat US, other diagnostic test, laparotomy, autopsy, clinical course). Data were compared by using chi(2) or Fisher exact test, depending on expected frequencies, with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Continuous variables were compared by using unpaired Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test, depending on data distribution. RESULTS: The study included 77 male and 51 female patients (mean age, 42 years). Sensitivity was 85% (44 of 52) for detection of any injuries, 97% (30 of 31) for surgical injuries (ie, injuries requiring surgery), and 100% (10 of 10) for fatal injuries. Specificity was 96% (73 of 76), 82% (80 of 97), and 69% (81 of 118), and accuracy was 91% (117 of 128), 86% (110 of 128), and 71% (91 of 128), for respective injury categories. One nonfatal surgical injury was missed in a high-risk patient. For each injury category, frequency of injury in patients with a fluid score of 2 or more was nine times that in patients with a score of 0 (P < .001 for all comparisons). Frequency of false-negative US findings in high-risk patients was eight times that in low-risk patients (P < .01). CONCLUSION: In patients who are hypotensive after blunt abdominal trauma and not hemodynamically stable enough to undergo diagnostic CT, negative US findings virtually exclude surgical injury, while positive US findings indicate surgical injury in 64% of cases.     

Blunt abdominal trauma in children: evaluation with emergency US

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of emergency abdominal ultrasonography (US) in the detection of both hemoperitoneum and parenchymal organ injury in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging findings were recorded prospectively in 744 consecutive children who underwent emergency US from January 1995 to October 1998; free fluid and parenchymal abnormalities of specific organs were also noted. Patients with intraabdominal injuries were identified retrospectively. Computed tomographic (CT) findings, intraoperative findings, and clinical outcome were compared with the initial US findings. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for patients who underwent CT, laparotomy, or both after US. RESULTS: Seventy-five (10%) of 744 patients had intraabdominal injuries, and US depicted free fluid in 42 of them. US had 56% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 82% positive predictive value, and 91% negative predictive value for detection of hemoperitoneum alone. US helped identify parenchymal abnormalities that corresponded to actual organ injury without accompanying free fluid in nine patients (12%). Inclusion of identification of parenchymal organ injury at US increased the sensitivity of US to 68%, with an accuracy of 92%. CONCLUSION: US for blunt abdominal trauma in children is highly accurate and specific, but moderately sensitive, for detection of intraabdominal injury.     

Screening US for blunt abdominal trauma: a retrospective study

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of screening US in patients with blunt abdominal trauma first admitted in the trauma centre of our general hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The reports of 864 abdominal US examinations of primary trauma patients (139 with major and 725 with minor injuries) obtained with standard protocols were retrieved. For each case, US reports were reviewed and compared to the best available reference standard. The accuracy of US was assessed by evaluating the method's overall ability to distinguish negative from positive cases by showing at least one of the lesions documented by the reference standard and its specific ability to depict injuries separately and independently. RESULTS: US exhibited a satisfactory overall ability to distinguish negative from positive patients (91.5% sensibility and 97.5% specificity in major trauma patients vs. 73.3% sensibility and 98.1% specificity in minor trauma patients) and a satisfactory specific ability to depict injuries separately and independently in major trauma patients. Of the 21/864 false negative reports (5 in patients with major and 16 in cases with minor trauma), only one affected patient management, a major trauma case, by delaying an emergency laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Its satisfactory accuracy for major trauma suggests that US could be employed not only to screen cases for emergency laparotomy but also as an alternative to screening CT. However, since major traumatic injuries generally carry an imperative indication for CT, especially as regards neurological, thoracic and skeletal evaluation, US has the not secondary task of performing a prompt preliminary examination using a simplified technique in the emergency room simultaneously with resuscitation.     

Blunt abdominal trauma: clinical value of negative screening US scans

PURPOSE: To assess clinical and surgical outcomes in patients with blunt abdominal trauma and negative screening ultrasonographic (US) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a database of 4,000 patients who underwent screening US for suspected blunt abdominal trauma at a level 1 trauma center, the authors retrospectively identified 3,679 patients with negative US findings. In these patients, outcome was determined by means of retrospective review of the trauma registry and all radiologic, surgical, and autopsy reports. In patients with false-negative findings at screening US, all imaging studies and medical charts were also reviewed. Proportions were statistically compared by means of the Pearson chi(2) and Fisher exact tests. Monte Carlo estimation was applied when expected frequencies were low. RESULTS: Among the 3,679 patients with negative findings at screening US, 99.9% (n = 3,641) had no injuries (true-negative findings). Differences in true-negative rates as a function of year (P >.5) or time of day (P >.3) were not significant. Among the 3,641 patients with true-negative findings, 93.6% (n = 3,407) required no additional tests and 6.4% (n = 234) underwent computed tomography or other tests. The percentage of patients who underwent additional tests was significantly higher in the 1st year of the study (19.2%) than in subsequent years (all comparisons, P <.001). Thirty-eight patients had false-negative US findings for abdominal injury. The injuries that were missed in 24 patients were nonsurgical (those that were treated successfully without intervention or were considered minor at autopsy) and those in 14 patients were surgical (required surgical intervention). Cumulatively, 65 injuries were missed. The six most common injuries included retroperitoneal hematoma (n = 13) and injuries in the spleen (n = 10), liver (n = 9), kidney (n = 8), adrenal gland (n = 8), and small bowel (n = 7). Twenty-five of the 38 patients had no or trace hemoperitoneum. Mean diagnostic delay until recognition of missed injury was 16.8 hours +/- 4.3 (standard error of the mean). The missed injury was identified within 12 hours in 19 of the 38 patients and within 24 hours in 34. CONCLUSION: The combination of negative US findings and negative clinical observation virtually excludes abdominal injury in patients who are admitted and observed for at least 12-24 hours.     

早期肠内营养在严重腹部创伤患者的临床应用

目的 评价早期肠内营养在严重腹部创伤患者中的临床应用.方法 40例严重腹部损伤患者随机分为研究组和对照组.研究组术后24 h开始经空肠造瘘管给予营养液,对照组术后给予肠外营养治疗.观察两组患者用药期间的不良反应、感染性并发症、治疗前后的营养状况以及有关生化结果的改变.结果 两组患者术后未发现明显不良反应和感染性并发症.两组治疗前后的体重改变差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).研究组和对照组术后肝、肾功能指标比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而研究组术后血红蛋白、血清白蛋白、前白蛋白、转铁蛋白水平与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 早期肠内营养在严重胃肠道创伤患者中应用优于肠外营养.     

老年胸、腹创伤病人的围手术期治疗

对42例老年胸、腹创伤手术病人进行回顾性分析。及时、适当、有效地治疗老年胸、腹创伤病人围手术期并存病和术后并发症是提高疗效、降低围手术期死亡率的关键。     

Screening US and CT for blunt abdominal trauma: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of screening US and CT in patients with blunt abdominal trauma admitted to the trauma centre of our General Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The abdominal US reports of 864 primary trauma patients (139 with major and 725 with minor injuries) and 162 CT reports of a subgroup of the same subjects (64 with major and 98 with minor injuries) were reviewed and compared to the best available reference standard. The accuracy of screening US was assessed by evaluating its overall ability to distinguish negative from positive cases by showing at least one of the lesions documented by the reference standard and its specific ability to depict all lesions; CT reports were evaluated only for the method's performance in depicting all lesions. RESULTS: Screening US exhibited a satisfactory overall ability to distinguish negative from positive patients (91.5% sensitivity and 97.5% specificity in major trauma patients versus 73.3% sensitivity and 98.1% specificity in the minor trauma group) and a satisfactory specific ability to depict all injuries in major trauma patients. In minor trauma cases sensitivity was satisfactory for free fluid but unsatisfactory for organ injuries. Of the 21/864 false negative reports (5 in patients with major and 16 in cases with minor traumas), only one affected patient management, a major trauma case, by delaying an emergency laparotomy. The performance of CT in detecting each single lesion was predictably excellent in both patient groups. CONCLUSION: Its satisfactory accuracy for major trauma suggests that US could be employed not only to screen cases for emergency laparotomy but also as an alternative to CT. However, since major traumatic injuries generally carry an imperative indication for CT, especially as regards neurological, thoracic and skeletal evaluation, US should be employed to perform a prompt preliminary examination using a simplified technique in the emergency room simultaneously with resuscitation.     

Intravascular gas as an incidental finding at US after blunt abdominal trauma

PURPOSE: To describe the occurrence and importance of intravascular gas at ultrasonography (US) during the initial examination of patients after blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reports of all abdominal US examinations performed at one institution for blunt trauma from October 1995 through June 1996 were reviewed. The charts of patients with intravascular gas were examined to determine the mechanism of injury, associated findings, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 730 patients underwent abdominal US examinations during the 9 months of study; five had intravascular gas demonstrated. Two patients had portal venous gas, one had hepatic venous gas, and two had inferior vena caval gas. Four of the five patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents, and one had been assaulted. In patients in whom follow-up studies were obtained, there was no evidence of intravascular gas at US or computed tomography. No cause was found at imaging or clinical examination. CONCLUSION: Intravascular gas may occur as a transient incidental finding after blunt abdominal trauma.     

Diagnostic performance of trauma US in identifying abdominal or pelvic free fluid and serious abdominal or pelvic injury

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the ability of a six-point trauma ultrasound (US) evaluation (a) to identify the presence of free fluid in the abdomen or pelvis, with computed tomography (CT) and laparotomy used as diagnostic standards and (b) to predict the presence of abdominal or pelvic injury, particularly injury requiring surgical intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 156 patients who underwent US evaluation for free fluid after sustaining blunt and penetrating trauma, 147 were entered into the prospective study and underwent follow-up CT and/or laparotomy (n = 79), in-hospital observation, or outpatient examination. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of US for identifying abdominal or pelvic free fluid were 69%, 100%, 100%, 95%, and 95%, respectively. The corresponding values for predicting abdominal and pelvic injury on the basis of free fluid status alone were 57%, 99%, 80%, 96%, and 95%, respectively. Performing repeated US examinations in patients with deteriorating clinical status decreased the false-negative rate by 50%, increasing the sensitivity for free fluid detection to 85% and the negative predictive value to 97%. Similarly, the sensitivity and negative predictive value for detection of injury increased to 71% and 97%, respectively. A learning curve was also observed, with 67% of the false-negative findings occurring in the first 3 months of the 19-month study. CONCLUSION: A six-point trauma US evaluation can reliably identify abdominal and pelvic free fluid, which can be a reliable indicator of abdominal or pelvic injury. Scanning conditions must be optimized, and the approach to clinical management must be cautious.     

腹部创伤死亡危险因素分析

目的探讨腹部创伤患者的主要死亡原因,为提高救治成功率提供依据。方法回顾性分析我院2003年1月～2007年12月收治的腹部创伤病例,分组对比死亡组与存活组在年龄、性别、受伤到急诊就诊时间、受伤主要机制、开放或闭合性损伤、受累器官数目、检查阳性率、平均出血量、院前休克例数、损伤严重程度、手术方法等方面的差异。结果与存活组患者比较,死亡组患者在交通事故受伤比例高（P〈0．001）、腹外器官损伤数多（P〈0．001）、平均出血量多（P〈0．01）、院前休克例数多（P〈0．001）、损伤严重程度高。结论受伤机制、受累器官数目、休克、损伤严重程度、手术方法的选择等都是腹部创伤死亡危险因素。     

Blunt abdominal trauma: screening us in 2,693 patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of screening abdominal ultrasonography (US) in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with blunt abdominal trauma underwent US. The abdomen and pelvis were scanned for free fluid, the visceral organs were assessed for heterogeneity, and duplex US was performed if necessary. Empty bladders were filled with 200-300 mL of sterile saline through a Foley catheter. US findings were considered positive if free fluid was present or if parenchymal abnormalities that could be consistent with trauma were detected. Screening US results were compared with findings of diagnostic peritoneal lavage, repeat US, computed tomography (CT), cystography, surgery, and/or autopsy and/or the clinical course. RESULTS: Findings from 2,693 US examinations were evaluated and were positive in 145 of 172 patients with injuries (sensitivity, 84%) and 64 (89%) of 72 patients who ultimately underwent laparotomy with surgical repair of injuries. False-negative findings were retroperitoneal injury, bowel injury, and intraperitoneal solid organ injury without hemoperitoneum. No patient with false-negative findings died. Specificity of US was 96% (2,429 of 2,521 patients), and overall accuracy was 96% (2,574 of 2,693 patients). Positive predictive value was 61% (145 of 237 patients), and negative predictive value was 99% (2,429 of 2,456 patients). CONCLUSION: Abdominal US is useful in screening for injury in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, and its use represents a notable change in institutional practice. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage is rarely performed, and CT is used when screening US findings are positive, when injury is clinically suspected despite negative US findings, or when US is not available.     

83例腹部闭合性损伤的院内救治

总结了83例腹部闭合性损伤的诊断、治疗的经验和体会，强调及时诊断、合理安排多脏器伤的救治顺序是提高治愈率的关键。     

以腹部损伤为主的多发伤全程一体化救治经验

目的 总结以腹部损伤为主的多发伤全程一体化救治经验,提高救治水平.方法 对2002年7月～2007年7月收治的675例腹部创伤合并多发伤患者资料进行回顾性分析.结果 急诊室滞留时间平均为(1.7±0.2)小时.其中实施手术者平均为(1.3±0.1)小时.确定性手术前时间平均为(2.2±0.3)小时,排除先送入病房观察再送入手术室患者,平均为(1.5±0.2)小时.救治成功率91.2%,死亡率7.3%.平均住院时间(20.5±1.3)天.结论 专业化救治模式、尽快明确诊断和确定手术指征、把握多部位损伤的处理顺序、合理运用损伤控制策略、积极防治早期致死性并发症对提高救治水平有重要意义.     

Multidetector CT: detection of active hemorrhage in patients with blunt abdominal trauma

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the imaging findings and the prevalence of active hemorrhage on contrast-enhanced multidetector CT in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced multidetector CT images of 165 patients with blunt abdominal trauma were reviewed for the presence of extravasated contrast agent, a finding that represents active hemorrhage. The site and appearance of the hemorrhage were noted on multidetector CT images. These findings were compared with surgical and angiographic results or with clinical follow-up. RESULTS: On multidetector CT images, active hemorrhage was detected in 22 (13%) of 165 patients with a total of 24 bleeding sites (14 intraperitoneal sites and 10 extraperitoneal sites). Active hemorrhage was visible most frequently as a jet of extravasated contrast agent (10/24 bleeding sites [42%]). Diffuse or focal extravasation was less frequently seen (nine [37%] and five [21%] bleeding sites, respectively). CT attenuation values measured in the aorta (mean, 199 H) were significantly higher than those measured in extravasated contrast material (mean, 155 H) (p < 0.001). Sixteen (73%) of 22 patients with active bleeding on multidetector CT images underwent immediate surgical or angiographic intervention. One patient received angiographic therapy 10 hr after undergoing multidetector CT, and five patients died between 1 and 3 hr after multidetector CT examination. CONCLUSION: Active hemorrhage in patients after blunt abdominal trauma is most frequently visible as a jet of extravasated contrast agent on multidetector CT. When extravasation is detected, immediate surgical or angiographic therapy is required.     

急诊超声检查腹部创伤245例

目的探讨急诊超声在腹部创伤后定位诊断内脏损伤的价值.方法回顾分析急诊超声诊断并经手术或CT证实的腹部创伤所致内脏损伤245例.结果①245例共346个脏器损伤,超声确诊299例,误诊47例,总符合率为86.4%;②超声诊断脾、肝、肾及胃肠、肠系膜血管、膀胱、后腹膜脏器损伤等符合率分别为：93.4%、91.9%、80.9%及51.3%;③超声与手术比较检出腹腔积液及腹膜后血肿符合率分别为：100%（213/213）和89.5%（51/57）.结论急诊超声对腹部创伤后定位诊断脏器损伤具有较高临床诊断价值.     

US in blunt abdominal trauma: need to be there 24 hours a day!

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of routine abdominal ultrasound (US) as first diagnostic imaging method 24 h a day in a series of patients admitted with blunt abdominal trauma to our level II trauma center. Methods: Two thousand four hundred and eleven consecutive patients admitted after blunt abdominal trauma over 12 months were prospectively evaluated using abdominal US. The examinations were performed within 25 min after admission. An experienced senior radiologist was available on site 24 h a day (including holidays) to perform all the US examinations. The US examination included a full abdominal exploration. The US results were compared to findings at computed tomography (n = 115), clinical follow-up (n = 2244), or surgery (n = 47). Results: Overall, 2411 US abdominal studies were performed. In 5/2411 (0.2 %) patients, the US examinations were incomplete or indeterminate because of patient obesity and were therefore excluded from the study. Of the remaining 2406 US studies, 265 (11 %) were performed between 0 and 6 a.m., 770 (32 %) were performed between 6 a.m. and 12 midday, 673 (28 %) were performed between 12 midday. and 6 p.m., and the remaining 698 (29 %) were performed between 6 and 12 p.m. At US, the following post-traumatic injuries were correctly detected: 67 splenic lesions, 62 liver injuries, 13 renal contusions, 2 bowel lacerations, and 1 pancreatic injury. Nineteen patients had a sonogram with negative findings followed by CT with positive findings, while 18 patients had a sonogram with positive findings followed by CT with negative findings. The following rates were calculated for the US studies: true negative = 2224; true positive = 145; false positive = 18; false negative = 19; sensitivity = 88.4 %; specificity = 99.2 %; diagnostic accuracy = 98.2 %; positive predictive index = 88.9 %; negative predictive index = 99.1 %. Conclusion: Abdominal US provides a highly accurate, noninvasive imaging evaluation in patients who have sustained blunt abdominal trauma. This can be obtained particularly if a team of senior radiologists can perform the examination to provide high quality sonograms and be on site 24 h a day.     

Sports-related abdominal trauma

Athletes who sustain a direct blow to the abdomen that results in injury to spleen, liver, or kidney may have immediate severe pain and may become "shocky" quickly. Trainers, EMTs, paramedics, and team physicians should be aware of this possibility. In addition, athletes who have sustained direct blow and have had slower bleeding may collapse later either on the field, on the side-lines, or at home. They will be pale, sweaty, may complain of thirst, and the pulse will be rapid and thready. If a blow has been sustained that results in abdominal pain, the athlete should not be given liquids to drink. If he has collapsed or has diffuse abdominal pain he should be kept in a recumbent position, and the legs should be elevated in order to assist blood in returning to the heart (Trendelenberg position). If hypotensive shock is present, the PASG antishock garment should be applied. In cases in which there is serious concern about an intra-abdominal injury or the patient has collapsed in shock, transport to a hospital, preferably to a trauma center, should be effected as rapidly as possible. There should not be excessive delays in starting intravenous fluids or administering time-consuming procedures in the field. Truly serious intra-abdominal injuries as a result of nonvehicular sports-related incidents are not common. It is precisely for this reason that they are dangerous. Teammates, parents, trainers, coaches, EMTs, and paramedics are not accustomed to seeing them with any frequency. Because of this, the early signs of injury are often unrecognized, even in cases that progress to shock or collapse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)