Comparison of bedside ultrasound and biochemical markers in the follow-up and discharge decision of patients with blunt thoraco-abdominal trauma in the emergency department

Introduction and Aim: Trauma is the most common cause of young deaths andthe third most common cause of death in the world. Imaging methods, laboratory tests and clinical decision making rules play a role in the follow-up and discharge of trauma patients. Hemodynamic findings, laboratory tests and imaging methods help us in the classification of patients with clinical severity.In this study, we compared the bedside ultrasound and biochemical markers in the follow-up and discharge decision of patients with blunt thoracoabdominal trauma and also, patients who were discharged after emergency room follow-up; we aim to investigate the relationship between the discharge decision and sonographic findings. Material and Methods: In this study, blunt thoracoabdominal trauma patients admitted to the emergency department of Recep Tayip Erdoğan University – Rize Training and Research Hospital within a certain period of time; in addition to routine examinations, recurrent bedside ultrasound was performed during trauma follow-up and its relationship with routine examinations and its role in discharge decision were evaluated. Results and Conclusion: 83 patients were included in the study. Bedside ultrasound was found to be more excellent than laboratory parameters in determining pathology and hospitalization decision (p=0.01, Kruskal-Wallis). Additionally, the high specificity of bedside ultrasound to exclude pathology can be said to be valuable and successful in the decision to discharge (sensitivity %75, specificity %100). Keywords: Blunt Thoracoabdominal Trauma, Bedside Ultrasound, Emergency Medicine