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[Echography performed by surgeons in the management of patients with trauma]
Felipe Catán1, Carlos Altamirano, Cristian Salas del
1Unidad de Emergencia, Hospital del Salvador, Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina Oriente, Universidad de Chile.
Background:
Ultrasonography is useful in trauma patients to detect pleural effusions or peritoneal fluid.
Aim:
To assess the value of ultrasonography performed by surgeons in the assessment of trauma patients.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective review of ultrasonography reports and clinical history of 284 trauma patients.
Results:
One hundred fifty six patients had blunt trauma and 128 had penetrating trauma. Ultrasonography detected peritoneal fluid in 20%, pericardial effusion in 1% and pleural effusion in 1%. Eight percent had visceral damage or hematomas, without peritoneal fluid. None of the patients with a normal ultrasonography required surgery for hemoperitoneum; however, four patients had intestinal perforations and required surgery.
Conclusions:
Ultrasonography had a 100% sensitivity and specificity for the detection of clinically significant hemoperitoneum. Emergency ultrasonography performed by surgeons is useful and accurate.