The Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-care Ultrasonography in Children with Blunt Abdominal Trauma
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Report By: Alysa Butz MD, Mariah Barnes MD - EM Senior Resident, EM Faculty
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Search checked by Jeffrey Jones MD - Research Director
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Institution: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University Emergency Medicine Residency Program
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Date Submitted: 28th July 2021
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Last Modified: 28th July 2021
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Status:
Blue (submitted but not checked)
Three Part Question
In [children with blunt abdominal trauma] how [accurate is point of care ultrasound (POCUS)] compared to [computed tomography] in [diagnosing intra-abdominal injury]?Clinical Scenario
Patient is a previously healthy 8-year-old male who presents to your emergency department as a level II trauma activation after being involved in a motor-vehicle collision. The patient was a restrained back-seat passenger when their vehicle was T-boned at a suspected speed of 45 mph. There was no loss of consciousness on scene. EMS report his vital signs have been stable enroute. The child has some moderate abdominal tenderness, and you consider whether to order computed tomography (CT) or perform point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to evaluate his abdomen.
