[Diagnostics and interventional radiology of a bleeding trauma patient]

Ultrasonic examination performed for a hemodynamically unstable patient is a reliable means to find whether free fluid indicating bleeding is present in the abdominal cavity, pleura, or pericardium. Ultrasonic imaging is, however, less suitable for diagnosing visceral injuries, and if clinically possible, computed tomography, CT is the primary imaging technique for a trauma patient. In addition to visceral injuries, CT can be used for detecting active arterial bleeding, which has been found to predict the failure of conservative treatment. Embolization is a less invasive choice than surgery for treating bleeding.