Excerpt from Ultrasonography, Abdominal

Synonyms, Key Words, and Related Terms: abdominal ultrasonography, abdominal ultrasound, emergency abdominal ultrasonography, endovaginal sonography, transabdominal sonography, sonography, echography, echo

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Background

Ultrasonography is an ideal clinical tool for determining the source of abdominal pain. It can simplify the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, especially when pain and tenderness are present over the site of disease. Even if ultrasonography reveals no obvious etiology, it can facilitate diagnosis by excluding potentially life-threatening conditions. Emergency abdominal ultrasonography is indicated for the evaluation of aortic aneurysm, appendicitis, and biliary and renal colic, as well as blunt or penetrating abdominal trauma. Furthermore, patients with episodic abdominal pain may be aided by emergency physician-directed bedside ultrasonography.

Frequency

United States

Ultrasonography is gaining popularity in the examination of trauma patients.

International

Ultrasonography is widely used in European trauma centers and is a part of the surgical curriculum. In Japan, ultrasonography is used to evaluate trauma patients and to identify bowel obstruction.

Mortality/Morbidity

A primary application of ultrasonography in emergency medicine is for the rapid diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA); patient survival may depend on rapid diagnosis and interdisciplinary treatment. Another important use is in blunt and penetrating trauma; the need to identify life-threatening conditions with major trauma has heralded the significance of ultrasonography in advanced trauma life support.

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