Extended-Focused Ultrasonography for the Children with High-Energy Trauma

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasonography (USG) is an important tool used in the diagnosis of critical patients. The present study was carried out in order to detect intra-peritoneal free liquid in cases with high-energy trauma by using “extended-focused trauma ultrasonography” (E-FAST USG) and to determine the diagnostic power and benefits of this method.
METHODS: The medical records of pediatric cases with high-energy trauma were examined retrospectively. The results of computed tomography (CT) and radiologist-operated abdominal ultrasonography (Rad-USG) and the demographic data of patients were compared with the results obtained from E-FAST USG performed by a pediatric emergency specialist. Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical measurements among the groups.
RESULTS: One hundred sixty patients were observed during the study period. When E-FAST USG was compared to Rad-USG, the accuracy rate of E-FAST USG was found to be 97.5%, sensitivity to be 90.9%, and specificity to be 98%. Forty-one of the patients were examined using CT. The sensitivity of Rad-USG was found to be 64.6% and specificity to be 93.3%, whereas the sensitivity of FAST USG was found to be 81.8% and specificity to be 93.3%.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: FAST USG can be used in pediatric trauma cases at high sensitivity-specificity levels, and the radiation exposure of CT, which is a major consideration during childhood, can be reduced.