The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specific ity, accura
cy, and positive and negative predictive values of emergent ultrasound exam
ination in the detection of hemoperitoneum among war casualties, and to com
pare the results of this method in a specific war situation and civil condi
tions. Ninety-four wounded individuals with suspected blunt or penetrating
abdominal trauma were treated at a level I war hospital (group W), and 242
civilians with multiple injuries with suspected blunt abdominal trauma were
evaluated at the emergency center of a university hospital (group C). All
examinations were performed in less than 5 minutes with a portable ultrason
ographic scanner, and typical points were scanned (Morison's pouch, Douglas
and perisplenic spaces, paracolic gutter). In group W, hemoperitoneum was
identified correctly in 19 patients, with three false-negative and no false
-positive findings, whereas group C presented 98 true-positive results, 13
false-negative results, and again no false-positive results. We observed th
at ultrasonography in specific war conditions showed sensitivity of 86%, sp
ecificity of 100%, accuracy as high as 97%, positive predictive value of 10
0%, and negative predictive value of 96%, whereas in civil conditions the c
orresponding Values were 88%, 100%, 95%, 100%, and 91%, respectively. The s
ensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive val
ues of emergent ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of hemoperitoneum a
re approximately equal in war and civil conditions.