[Early treatment of the abdominal area]

Abdominal trauma has the priority in diagnosis and therapy after assuring cardiorespiratory function. Abdominal injuries are seen in 2%-5% of all accidents, often as polytrauma. In the FRG there are mainly blunt traumas (90%). Abdominal trauma is the leading injury in 51.6% of fatal traffic accidents. The frequency of the organ traumas is: spleen 30.2%, liver 19.2%, stomach/gut 13.1%, pancreas 5%, mesentery 2.2%. The consistently reported mortality rate of 20% obliges rapid and directed use of all diagnostic procedures, i.e. ultrasound, lavage, CT.