33. Imaging the Trauma Patient

Trauma patients frequently are imaged in the emergency department, as they are at high risk for significant internal injuries that would not be evident on conventional radiographs. Many institutions use “Fast” scan ultrasound (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma), a way of surveying the certain portions of the abdomen and pelvis looking for free fluid, which may indicate the presence of hemorrhage. When free fluid is found, the patient is then generally evaluated with enhanced computed tomography.