Radiology of Emergency Surgery

Over the last several decades, there has been a substantial increase in the use of diagnostic imaging for management of surgical patients. Radiography, ultrasound (US), computerized tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MRI) all play an essential role in the evaluation of acute medical and surgical conditions. A basic understanding of each modality’s strengths and weaknesses and how they can be combined to answer a clinical question is necessary when selecting the appropriate examination. There are a number of critical findings that clinicians and surgeons should be aware of when interpreting and reviewing imaging examinations. This chapter will specifically review significant imaging findings for a wide range of acute conditions within the abdomen and pelvis encountered by surgeons in their day-to-day practice. With the understanding of these radiological principles, surgeons will be able to order appropriate imaging tests and quickly recognize acutely ill patients’ critical findings.