Imaging in abdominal trauma

Abstract

Trauma occurs in events with kinetic energy transmission and damage in varying degrees to different organs. Affecting young patients it results in major social impact. The care of these patients should be carried out in the most efficient way to reduce this impact. In the specific context, abdominal trauma is a frequent event. Clinical evaluation is often limited due to potential hidden injuries. Diagnostic imaging assist this investigation outlining these lesions. Conventional radiograph shows minor role, with the main roles remaining for ultrasound, performed in protocol searching for free fluid as the initial screening method, and computed tomography, the current reference method searching for intra-abdominal injuries. Thus, associating clinical data and subsidiary imaging data, the surgeon is allowed to choose the appropriate action for each case.