Reviews Open access

Evidence for cost-effectiveness of ultrasound in evaluation of blunt trauma patients

Authors

Published
28 October 2016
Section
Reviews
DOI
10.4081/ecj.2016.6057

Abstract

The evaluation of the blunt trauma patient frequently includes the focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) exam. Additional point-of-care applications for ultrasound in blunt trauma patients are emerging. Ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic technique generally considered to be relatively inexpensive, offering the potential for improved outcomes and lower costs. However, formal evaluation of ultrasound’s effect on cost-effectiveness has occurred in a piecemeal fashion. The aim of this review is to evaluate the available evidence regarding whether ultrasound is cost-effective for evaluation of blunt trauma patients, and what factors may affect its cost-effectiveness.

Keywords

Author Biography

  • Bennett H. Lane, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

    Fourth-year medical student

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