CT in patients with blunt abdominal trauma: clinical significance of intraperitoneal fluid detected on a scan with otherwise normal findings.

Abstract

Patients with blunt abdominal trauma who have small amounts of intraperitoneal fluid as the sole abnormality shown by CT may generally be treated conservatively. However, patients with even a small quantity of mesenteric fluid may benefit from peritoneal lavage to help exclude bowel or mesenteric injury. Intermediate and large amounts of fluid are less common as the sole CT abnormality but have a higher likelihood of being associated with bowel or mesenteric injury.