[Sonography in blunt abdominal trauma].

Ultrasonic examination was performed in 79 patients with blunt abdominal trauma, using 3.5 mHz real-time sonography. The examination aimed at clarifying intraperitoneal and retroperitoneal haemorrhage and injury to organs. Sonographic detection of haemorrhage succeeded in 13/13 of spleen ruptures and in one case of a liver rupture. 6 renal traumas were recognised by means of indirect signs and only twice by the direct identification of a band-shaped interruption of the parenchyma. Non-invasive sonography can be employed primarily in place of diagnostic peritoneal lavage for the detection of life-threatening intraperitoneal haemorrhages with an accuracy of more than 90%. Primary diagnosis of the source of haemorrhage is limited to individual cases because of the unfavourable conditions under which examination is performed. In unclear cases essential additional information is supplied by sonographic examination of the course of the disease.