Echoenhanced color Doppler ultrasonography improves diagnosis in hemorrhagic abdominal traumas

Ultrasonography is indicated in diagnosis of abdominal traumas since it is capable to discover minimal intraperitoneal bleeding related to internal body organs lesions; furthermore CD ultrasound allows to recognize the entity of vascular involvement and sometimes is able to show the origin of bleeding from the damaged organs. Echoenhancing agents seems to improve CD sensitivity. 14 patients suffering from intraperitoneal bleeding related to abdominal shut traumas for lacerated-contused lesions of spleen, liver or kidneys were subjected to CD US examinations and spiral CT scans. Echoenhancing agent Levovist 4.0 gr preparation at 300 mg/ml concentration was administered i.v. at a slow bolus. Bleeding origin was discovered in two cases by means of standard CD evaluation and in 6 cases after CT scan; after Levovist injection the hemorrhagic source was found in 9 patients. These preliminary results seems to show that echoenhanced CD ultrasonography is more sensitive than CT scan discovering bleeding from internal organs hemorrhages in abdominal traumas.