A Comparative Study of Ultrasonogram and Computed Tomography in Cases of Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

Trauma accounts for one of the reason for majority of deaths in people younger than 45 years of age and is also a preventable cause of death. Ultra sonogram (US) of the abdomen appears to be a useful and important tool in diagnosis of any kind of injury to the abdominal organs due to BUT. Our aim of the present study was to assess the role of Ultrasonography in patients with BAT and record the findings and to perform CT in cases negative for US. Material and methods: A prospective study for 12 months was conducted by the department of Radiology among cases of Blunt abdominal trauma. Hemodynamically stable patients were performed Ultra sonogram, and computed tomography in cases inconclusive by US and in cases highly suspicious of abdominal injury. The statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS (Version 1.0).Chi-Square test was done to find the significant difference and 'p' value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: 548 patients with 368 males and 180 females, mean age of 34.42± 8.4 years were included. The average Injury severity score (ISS) was 17.9± 1.0 (Mean ± SD). US alone in 84.3% of cases and both US and CT in 15.7% of cases were done. 58 cases had US score <3 and 490 cases had US score > 3. US had a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 97% in detection of free fluid in peritoneum. Liver was the most common organ injured and observed in 348 cases (63.5%). Conclusion: Our study strongly suggests that CT scans should be followed by imperative US scans or in cases which are negative by US but clinically strongly suspicious of organ injury or damage. However accurate imaging diagnosis and hemodynamical stability are the main determinants that determine the strategy of management of cases of BAT.