Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Emergency bedside ultrasonography is frequently used in trauma patients, but its sensitivity for detecting hemoperitoneum has not been clarified.
What question this study addressed
This work tests the hypothesis that emergency bedside ultrasonography will be sensitive enough to detect the presence of hemoperitoneum in all blunt trauma patients who have been hypotensive either in the out-of-hospital setting or emergency department.
What this study adds to our knowledge
Emergency bedside ultrasonography detected hemoperitoneum in only 92 (sensitivity 79%; 95% CI 71% to 86%) of 116 patients with the condition present; however, it correctly ruled out the presence of hemoperitoneum in 316 (specificity 95%; 95% CI 93% to 97%) other patients who did not have hemoperitoneum.
How this might change clinical practice
The authors conclude that emergency ultrasonography cannot be relied on alone to detect the presence of hemoperitoneum in all blunt trauma patients.