Ultrasound of blunt abdominal trauma

This article reviews the emerging role of sonography in the initial assessm ent of blunt abdominal trauma. Popular in Europe for over 2 decades, severa l major trauma centers in North America now consider sonography to be the s creening modality of choice for the rapid detection of hemoperitoneum follo wing blunt trauma. As a fast, portable, and noninvasive modality, it has ad vantages over both diagnostic peritoneal lavage and CT. This article presen ts the various appearances of hemoperitoneum, parenchymal injury, and poten tial pitfalls and limitations.