Diagnostic Performance of Ultrasound in Detecting Abdominal Trauma at Tertiary Care Center
Introduction: The Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination using conventional ultrasound has limited utility for detecting solid organ injury. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis compares the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to conventional ultrasound when used as the initial assessment for abdominal trauma prior to computed tomography (CT) imaging. Patient and physician satisfaction are also crucial factors, as they directly impact the quality of care and patient outcomes. The comfort and anxiety levels of paediatric patients during diagnostic procedures, and the ease of use and learning curve of ultrasound for healthcare providers, are essential components of overall healthcare delivery. Methods This is a prospective study was conducted in the Department of Radiology, Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences, Teaching Hospital & Research Centre. Consecutive blunt abdominal trauma patients admitted to emergency room of Hospital over a period of 6 months. Data including the mechanism of abdominal injury, ultrasound diagnosis, CT imaging, and clinical management were analyzed. The bedside abdominal ultrasonography was performed before the abdominal trauma patients transferred to CT room. The principle of bedside abdominal ultrasonography scans is to assess the presence/absence of any amount of free fluid that mostly is blood from broken organs .Results In the present study, a total of 110 patients were included out of which 74 (71.1%) were males and 36 (28.8%) were females (table-1). In our study, most of the patients were 21-30 years i.e., 31 out of 90 (34.4%), followed by 31-40 years, i.e., 23 out of 90 (25.5%). Ultrasound identified internal injuries in 71.1% of cases, Speed and Efficiency: The average ultrasound examination duration was 15 minutes, enhancing patient throughput in the emergency department. Ultrasound findings led to immediate intervention in 29.9% of cases. The ultrasound was reported to be user-friendly with a quick learning curve, and patients experienced less discomfort and anxiety compared to other diagnostic modalities. Conclusion The diagnostic performance of ultrasound in detecting abdominal trauma at a tertiary care center demonstrates its utility as a rapid, non-invasive, and effective initial imaging modality. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) is particularly valuable in hemodynamically unstable patients, offering timely identification of free intraperitoneal fluid, which is often indicative of significant injury. However, its sensitivity and specificity can vary depending on the type and severity of trauma, operator experience, and patient factors such as body habitus.