ABCDE
Blunt Abdominal Trauma
Haemodynamically stable
Haemodynamically unstable
Perform FAST
CT abdomen/pelvis
Pain on abdominal exam
or
Concerning investigations,
mechanism or
associated injury pattern
or
Patient unassessable*
Normal or equivocal
abdominal exam and
patient assessable
Observe
Serial abdominal exams
FAST positive
FAST negative
Laparotomy
Search for other
causes of
haemodynamic
instability
* Patients may be unassessable due to -
•
decreased GCS or intubated
•
EtOH or drugs
•
dementia