Journal of pediatric surgery
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Review Meta Analysis
Performance of abdominal ultrasonography in pediatric blunt trauma patients: a meta-analysis.
The objective of the study was to obtain the best estimates of the test performance of abdominal ultrasonography (US) for identifying children with intraabdominal injuries (IAIs). ⋯ Abdominal US has a modest sensitivity for the detection of children with hemoperitoneum; however, its test performance characteristics worsen when only the most methodologically rigorous articles are included. A negative US examination has questionable utility as the sole diagnostic test to rule out the presence of IAI. Because of the high risk of IAI, a hemodynamically stable child with a positive US examination should immediately undergo abdominal computed tomographic scanning.