Blunt abdominal trauma: Computed tomography, ultrasound, or diagnostic peritoneal lavage: When and by whom?

The most important imaging decision that the clinician must make regarding the patient who sustains blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) is whether the patient is stable enough to undergo computed tomography (CT). CT is the most sensitive and specific examination for the evaluation of BAT. If the patient is unstable, the clinician has three choices: surgery, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, or ultrasound (US). If the patient then stabilizes, a CT scan should be obtained even if the US is negative.