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This very small study looked at the utility of using IV contrast media to enhance abdominal sonography in identifying injuries in blunt abdominal trauma patients. The comparison was CT scanning of the abdomen to identify injuries. The study concluded:
“With the addition of contrast and careful inspection of solid organs, abdominal sonography with contrast performed by the emergency physician improves the ability to rule out traumatic findings on abdominal CT. CEUS performed by emergency physicians may miss injuries, especially in the absence of free fluid, in cases of low-grade injuries, simultaneous injuries, or poor-quality examinations.”
To me, this is a limited study and the technique is not ready for wide spread use but further study is warranted.
References
Contrast-enhanced point of care ultrasound for the evaluation of stable blunt abdominal trauma by the emergency physician: A prospective diagnostic study
Viviane Donner MD, Julian Thaler MD, Wolf E Hautz Prof. Dr.Med, MME, Thomas Christian Sauter Prof. Dr.Med, MME, Daniel Ott MD, Karsten Klingberg MD, Aristomenis K Exadaktylos Prof.Dr.Med, Beat Lehmann MD
First published: 19 April 2024
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians OpenVolume 5, Issue 2
https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13123