Biomaterial Database

Intravascular gas as an incidental finding at US after blunt abdominal trauma. 1999

M A Brown, and J P Hauschildt, and G Casola, and B B Gosink, and D B Hoyt

Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego 92103-8756, USA.

OBJECTIVE To describe the occurrence and importance of intravascular gas at ultrasonography (US) during the initial examination of patients after blunt abdominal trauma. METHODS Reports of all abdominal US examinations performed at one institution for blunt trauma from October 1995 through June 1996 were reviewed. The charts of patients with intravascular gas were examined to determine the mechanism of injury, associated findings, and clinical outcome. RESULTS A total of 730 patients underwent abdominal US examinations during the 9 months of study; five had intravascular gas demonstrated. Two patients had portal venous gas, one had hepatic venous gas, and two had inferior vena caval gas. Four of the five patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents, and one had been assaulted. In patients in whom follow-up studies were obtained, there was no evidence of intravascular gas at US or computed tomography. No cause was found at imaging or clinical examination. CONCLUSIONS Intravascular gas may occur as a transient incidental finding after blunt abdominal trauma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D011169	Portal Vein	A short thick vein formed by union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein.	Portal Veins,Vein, Portal,Veins, Portal
D004618	Embolism, Air	Blocking of a blood vessel by air bubbles that enter the circulatory system, usually after TRAUMA; surgical procedures, or changes in atmospheric pressure.	Air Embolism,Embolism, Gas,Air Embolisms,Embolisms, Air,Embolisms, Gas,Gas Embolism,Gas Embolisms
D006503	Hepatic Veins	Veins which drain the liver.	Hepatic Vein,Vein, Hepatic,Veins, Hepatic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000007	Abdominal Injuries	General or unspecified injuries involving organs in the abdominal cavity.	Injuries, Abdominal,Abdominal Injury,Injury, Abdominal
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014463	Ultrasonography	The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz.	Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic
D014682	Vena Cava, Inferior	The venous trunk which receives blood from the lower extremities and from the pelvic and abdominal organs.	Inferior Vena Cava,Inferior Vena Cavas,Vena Cavas, Inferior