Abstract

Background: Vascular duplex ultrasound is a noninvasive and rapid bedside assessment tool in Emergency Department (ED). The aim of present study was to determine the diagnostic value of vascular bedside ultrasonography in patients admitted to ED with blunt limb traumas. Methods and materials: In this observational study that was performed as a diagnostic survey, 103 consecutive subjects with limb trauma admitted to two academic EDs in 2017 were enrolled. The diagnostic values of bedside duplex ultrasonography were determined. The standard criterion was CT-angiography. Results: The bedside ultrasonography done by emergency medicine attending showed vascular injury in 23 patients (22.3%). The CT-angiography reports were positive for injury in 26 cases (25.2%). There was significant association between results of bedside ultrasonography and reports of CT-angiography (P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity were 88.5% and 100%, respectively and the diagnostic accuracy was 97.1%. Conclusion: We concluded that a diagnostic value of bedside ultrasonography in cases with blunt limb trauma seems to be reliable and use of this method is applicable for detection of vascular damages.