Ultrasound for blunt abdominal trauma in the emergency department

Ultrasound for detection of intraabdominal injury from blunt trauma is becoming the initial imaging study of choice in emergency departments worldwide. A plethora of clinical studies investigating the accuracy of ultrasound in this setting exists, and most thus far have concentrated on the detection of hemoperitoneum. Ultrasound may also have use in the imaging and detection of solid organ and bowel injuries, but few studies have addressed this. In this article we describe the evolution of ultrasound for blunt abdominal trauma, and present an up-to-date review of the myriad clinical studies concerning detection of hemoperitoneum in adult and pediatric patients. We also review a few studies focusing on the role of ultrasound in the detection of specific organ injuries. Advantages, pitfalls, and controversies in training and credentialing are also discussed.