Diagnostic Imaging for Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Background: Blunt abdominal trauma is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients encountering traumatic injuries, especially motor vehicle accidents, which are the leading cause of injury worldwide. Focused abdominal sonogram for trauma, computed tomography with or without contrast, and laparotomy are the most common ways of diagnosis and treatment. With advancement of diagnostic medicine, the physicians are making use of non-operative methods to achieve quick results quicker and with fewer complications. Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, January 2001, through February 2017. The following search terms were used: blunt abdominal injury, FAST scan, US in abdominal trauma, CT for abdominal trauma, trauma management Aim: In this review, we aimed at evaluating the various methods of diagnosis using imaging for blunt abdominal trauma. Conclusion: The growing tendency of non-operative management necessitates early identification of the injury sites, which is aided by the increasing sophistication of the CT techniques. Additionally, CT also provides a very significant method for following up the patients and for detecting complications which were not diagnosed initially.