Blunt abdominal trauma in children. Special considerations in evaluation and management

Blunt abdominal trauma, common in the pediatric patient, often presents diagnostic difficulties. Following proper resuscitation of the patient, the abdomen must be carefully evaluated. Adequate physical examination is often impossible. Computed tomography of the abdomen is preferable in the stable patient, but peritoneal lavage is occasionally useful. Nonoperative therapy is often used in management of solid visceral injuries in children, but this type of therapy necessitates frequent, careful monitoring.