title: Emergency ultrasound in trauma patients.
abstract: US will be used more frequently in the future for the evaluation of traumatized patients. Previously,the main focus of the sonographic examination was for the detection of free fluid. Unstable patients with free fluid often can be triaged to the operation room without further imaging tests. In patients who are more stable or in whom US results are negative, CT is required. Based on recent studies, sonography has a sensitivity rate of approximately 40% in direct detection of solid organ injuries. In the future, however, with the use of contrast-enhanced agents, sonography may more reliably detect solid organ injuries. Within the chest, US has been shown to be helpful in detecting pleural effusions and may be useful in detecting pericardial effusions. US has been shown to be sensitive in detecting pneumothoraces in traumatized patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Radiology, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3100, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. john.mcgahan@ucdmc.mcdavis.edu
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McGahan
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Maria Luisa C
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fogata
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014193:Trauma Centers; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media