Minimal pelvic fluid in blunt abdominal trauma in children: The significance of this sonographic finding

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of the ultrasonographic finding of pelvic fluid after blunt abdominal trauma in children as a predictor of an abdominal organ injury. Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 183 children with blunt abdominal trauma were reviewed retro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric surgery 2001-09, Vol.36 (9), p.1387-1389
Main Authors: Rathaus, Valeria, Zissin, Rivka, Werner, Miriam, Erez, Ilan, Shapiro, Myra, Grunebaum, Michael, Konen, Osnat
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdominal Injuries - diagnostic imaging
abdominal ultrasound
Adolescent
Ascitic Fluid - diagnostic imaging
Biological and medical sciences
Blunt abdominal trauma
Child
Child, Preschool
Digestive system. Abdomen
Female
Humans
Infant
Injury Severity Score
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
organ injury
pelvic fluid
Pelvis
Predictive Value of Tests
Probability
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tropical medicine
Ultrasonic investigative techniques
Ultrasonography
Wounds, Nonpenetrating - diagnostic imaging
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Summary:Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of the ultrasonographic finding of pelvic fluid after blunt abdominal trauma in children as a predictor of an abdominal organ injury. Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 183 children with blunt abdominal trauma were reviewed retrospectively. All children had an abdominal sonography as the primary screening study. The ultrasound results were divided into 3 groups: group A, normal examination; group B, pelvic fluid only; group C, peritoneal fluid outside the pelvis. The results of the initial ultrasound examinations were compared with the findings of the CT scan, or a second ultrasound examination or the clinical course during the hospitalization. Results: Group A included 87 children; group B, 57, and group C, 39. Four abdominal organ injuries were missed by the ultrasound examination. The sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasound examinations to predict organ injury in presence of peritoneal fluid outside the pelvis were, respectively, 89.5% and 96.6%; the positive and negative predictive value were 87.2% and 97.3%. No statistically significant difference was seen between group A and group B, whereas the presence of peritoneal fluid outside the pelvic cavity (group C) was associated strongly with an organ injury (P
ISSN:0022-3468
1531-5037
DOI:10.1053/jpsu.2001.26377