investigations in abdominal trauma
Last reviewed 01/2018
The following investigation are often informative in patients with abdominal trauma:
- plain radiographs:
- the erect chest permits the detection of small amounts of free gas in the abdomen
- the abdominal may show fluid levels in paralytic ileus
- diagnostic peritoneal lavage
- ultrasound:
- good for examining solid organs
- can detect free fluid in the abdomen
- CT:
- can detect free fluid in the abdomen
- good for hepatic and splenic damage