title: Screening ultrasonography of 2,204 patients with blunt abdominal trauma in the Wenchuan earthquake.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal injuries constitute a small proportion of all earthquake-related traumas; however, it often resulted in fatal hemorrhage. Ultrasonography has been described as an effective triage tool in the evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma. We aimed to present an overview of the diagnostic accuracy of screening ultrasonography for patients with blunt abdominal trauma admitted to various hospitals during the Wenchuan earthquake in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the patients with blunt abdominal trauma who underwent ultrasonography after admission to various hospitals. Ultrasonography findings were considered positive if evidence of free fluid or a parenchymal injury was identified. Ultrasonography findings were compared with the findings of computed tomography, diagnostic peritoneal lavage, repeated ultrasonography, cystography, operation, and/or the clinical course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings from 2,204 ultrasonographic examinations were evaluated. Findings of 199 ultrasonographic examinations (9.0%) were considered positive. Of the patients, 12 (0.5%) had a false-negative ultrasonographic findings; of this group, 3 (25%) required exploratory laparotomy. Ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 91.9%, specificity of 96.9%, and an accuracy of 96.6% for detection of abdominal injuries. Positive predictive value was 68.3%, and negative predictive value was 99.4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening ultrasonography is highly reliable in the setting of blunt abdominal trauma after earthquake. It should be used as an initial diagnostic modality in the evaluation of most blunt abdominal trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic study, level III.
authors: Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors: Jixiang
authors: J
authors: Zhou
authors: Jiwei
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Wu
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Jiang
authors: Heqing
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Prasoon
authors: Yinglong
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Yannan
authors: Y
authors: Bai
authors: Jianguo
authors: J
authors: Qiu
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004190:Disasters; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult