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Ultrasound in the ED: a different point of view

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Lyne Filiatrault*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC

Extract

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Many published papers report excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy when non-radiologists employ ultrasound (U/S) to detect free intraperitoneal fluid in cases of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). In this setting, it is best to view the FAST (focused abdominal sonogram in trauma) as a noninvasive diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL): It tells us whether there is free intraperitoneal fluid but does not determine the specific parenchymal injury. In other words it is a screening tool.

Type
Controversies • Controverses
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 1999

References

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