Significant hemoperitoneum in blunt trauma victims with normal vital signs and clinical examination

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Clinical examination of the abdomen is generally reliable in stable trauma patients with no distracting or head injury. Patients involved in relatively minor trauma with normal examinations can be safely sent home in most instances. We report 6 cases of blunt abdominal trauma that had completely normal clinical examinations and vital signs but were found to have significant hemoperitoneum on trauma ultrasound examination. Four of the patients were examined for educational purposes just before planned discharge from the emergency department. These cases suggest that a screening ultrasound examination may have a role in the evaluation of most blunt trauma patients.(Am J Emerg Med 2002;20:218-221. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.)