BLUNT ABDOMINAL-TRAUMA IN CHILDREN - ROLE OF IMAGING STUDIES IN INITIAL MANAGEMENT

Blunt abdominal trauma is common in children and induces significant m orbidity and mortality. Trends in management of solid viscera lesions have changed over the past 15 years and a conservative approach is now preferred whenever possible. Such management has become possible in s elected cases due to advances in pediatric intensive care and medical imaging. The authors provide a review - based on international literat ure data - of the respective roles of medical imaging studies in the i nitial management of blunt abdominal trauma in children. The place of these investigations is discussed for each organ, with emphasis on the diagnostic value of sonography and computed tomography. Diagnostic pi tfalls and limitations in pronostic accuracy are discussed.