[Abdominal injuries. Value of emergency abdominal echotomography]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonic tomography, among other methods, to detect visceral lesions in multiple traumas of the abdomen. Forty-seven case-records of abdominal traumas observed over an 8-month period were selected. We used a real-time sectorial ultrasound scanner with a 3.5 MHz probe. Positive results were obtained in 11 patients who were operated upon. None of the 33 patients with negative results and only one of the 3 patients with doubtful results underwent surgery. We found that suggestive symptoms were compatible with the absence of any severe visceral lesion and, conversely, that patients with multiple traumas but little suggestive symptoms could present with one or several intra-abdominal lesions. Abdominal ultrasonic tomography can rapidly be performed and its indications are different from, but wider than, those of peritoneal lavage. It is a safe and reliable emergency examination which does not interfere with resuscitation procedures.