Blunt abdominal injury in the pregnant patient: detection with US.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of ultrasonography (US) for the detection of blunt intraabdominal injury in pregnant patients and to compare differences between pregnant and nonpregnant patients of childbearing age.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of results of all consecutive emergency blunt trauma US examinations performed at a level I trauma center from January 1995 to June 2002 was conducted. Data on demographics, free fluid location, and patient outcome were collected.