Abstract
Background: The ability of abdominal ultrasound to detect intraperitoneal fluid in the pregnant trauma patient has been questioned. Methods: Pregnant blunt trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center during an 8-year period were reviewed. Ultrasound examinations were used to detect intraperitoneal fluid and considered positive if such fluid was identified. Results: One hundred twenty-seven (61%) of 208 pregnant patients had abdominal ultrasound during initial evaluation in the emergency department. Seven patients had intra-abdominal injuries, and six had documented hemoperitoneum. Ultrasound identified intraperitoneal fluid in five of these six patients (sensitivity, 83%; 95% confidence interval, 36-100%). In the 120 patients without intra-abdominal injury, ultrasound was negative in 117 (specificity, 98%; 95% confidence interval, 93-100%). The three patients without intra-abdominal injury but with a positive ultrasound had the following: serous intraperitoneal fluid and no injuries at laparotomy (one) and uneventful clinical courses of observation (two). Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography in pregnant trauma patients is similar to that seen in nonpregnant patients. Occasional false negatives occur and a negative initial examination should not be used as conclusive evidence that intra-abdominal injury is not present. Ultrasound has the advantages of no radiation exposure.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 689-694 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - 2001 |
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Keywords
- Blunt abdominal trauma
- Pregnancy
- Ultrasound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Abdominal ultrasound examination in pregnant blunt trauma patients. / Goodwin, Hillary; Holmes Jr, James F; Wisner, David H.
In: Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care, Vol. 50, No. 4, 2001, p. 689-694.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Abdominal ultrasound examination in pregnant blunt trauma patients
AU - Goodwin, Hillary
AU - Holmes Jr, James F
AU - Wisner, David H
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Background: The ability of abdominal ultrasound to detect intraperitoneal fluid in the pregnant trauma patient has been questioned. Methods: Pregnant blunt trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center during an 8-year period were reviewed. Ultrasound examinations were used to detect intraperitoneal fluid and considered positive if such fluid was identified. Results: One hundred twenty-seven (61%) of 208 pregnant patients had abdominal ultrasound during initial evaluation in the emergency department. Seven patients had intra-abdominal injuries, and six had documented hemoperitoneum. Ultrasound identified intraperitoneal fluid in five of these six patients (sensitivity, 83%; 95% confidence interval, 36-100%). In the 120 patients without intra-abdominal injury, ultrasound was negative in 117 (specificity, 98%; 95% confidence interval, 93-100%). The three patients without intra-abdominal injury but with a positive ultrasound had the following: serous intraperitoneal fluid and no injuries at laparotomy (one) and uneventful clinical courses of observation (two). Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography in pregnant trauma patients is similar to that seen in nonpregnant patients. Occasional false negatives occur and a negative initial examination should not be used as conclusive evidence that intra-abdominal injury is not present. Ultrasound has the advantages of no radiation exposure.
AB - Background: The ability of abdominal ultrasound to detect intraperitoneal fluid in the pregnant trauma patient has been questioned. Methods: Pregnant blunt trauma patients admitted to a Level I trauma center during an 8-year period were reviewed. Ultrasound examinations were used to detect intraperitoneal fluid and considered positive if such fluid was identified. Results: One hundred twenty-seven (61%) of 208 pregnant patients had abdominal ultrasound during initial evaluation in the emergency department. Seven patients had intra-abdominal injuries, and six had documented hemoperitoneum. Ultrasound identified intraperitoneal fluid in five of these six patients (sensitivity, 83%; 95% confidence interval, 36-100%). In the 120 patients without intra-abdominal injury, ultrasound was negative in 117 (specificity, 98%; 95% confidence interval, 93-100%). The three patients without intra-abdominal injury but with a positive ultrasound had the following: serous intraperitoneal fluid and no injuries at laparotomy (one) and uneventful clinical courses of observation (two). Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography in pregnant trauma patients is similar to that seen in nonpregnant patients. Occasional false negatives occur and a negative initial examination should not be used as conclusive evidence that intra-abdominal injury is not present. Ultrasound has the advantages of no radiation exposure.
KW - Blunt abdominal trauma
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Ultrasound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035064398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035064398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 11303166
AN - SCOPUS:0035064398
VL - 50
SP - 689
EP - 694
JO - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
JF - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
SN - 2163-0755
IS - 4
ER -