Health News, Medical Information
After abdominal trauma, ultrasound plays a key role in hemodynamically unstable patients by allowing rapid detection of hemoperitoneum, which requires immediate laparotomy.
In non-traumatic abdominal emergencies, early ultrasound detection of life-threatening conditions (such as ectopic pregnancy or ruptured aortic aneurysm) also contributes to improving patient survival.
Although very useful, ultrasound is not an ideal tool, as its sensitivity and specificity vary significantly from patient to patient and depending on the examined structures.
Clinicians must be fully aware of the main indications and limitations of abdominal ultrasound in order to optimize its contribution to the diagnostic and decision-making process.