Abdominal trauma in infants and children: prompt identification and early management of serious and life-threatening injuries. Part I: injury patterns and initial assessment.

Evaluation of children with abdominal trauma can be a difficult process. Unique anatomic features predispose children to specific injuries and potentially make identification of life-threatening injuries difficult. While Part I of this review discusses the initial assessment and diagnostic testing in children with abdominal trauma, Part II will review specific injuries and ED management of children with possible abdominal trauma. Knowledge of each of these factors will improve the ability of general and pediatric emergency physicians to expeditiously identify children with potential serious injury and initiate appropriate treatment.