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Table 1. Comparison Parameters for DPL, FAST, and CT

Parameter	DPL	FAST	CT
Time	10-15 min	2-4 min	Variable
Repeatability	Possible, but rarely done	Easy and frequently done	Yes
Reliability	Not organ specific	Operator dependent	Obesity, movement
Sensitivity	High	Medium	High
Specificity	Low	High	High
Advantages	Inexpensive, mobile, detects bowel injury	Noninvasive, rapid, mobile, moderately expensive (equipment)	Noninvasive, highly accurate, fixed, expensive (equipment)
Disadvantages	Invasive, misses retroperitoneal and diaphragm injuries	Hampered by subcutaneous or intra-abdominal air, obesity, pelvic fractures	Misses diaphragm, small bowel, and pancreatic injuries; radiation

Table 2. Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage Red Blood Cell Criteria ^[13]

	Positive	Indeterminate
Blunt trauma	100,000/μL	20-100,000/μL
Stab wound
Anterior abdomen	100,000/μL	20,000-100,000/μL
Flank	100,000/μL	20,000-100,000/μL
Back	100,000/μL	20,000-100,000/μL
Low chest	5000/μL	1000-5000/μL
Gunshot wound	5000/μL	1000-5000/μL

Table 3. Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage Non–Red Blood Cell Criteria ^[14]

	Positive	Indeterminate
Amylase level	≥20 IU/L	10-19 IU/L
Alkaline phosphatase level	≥3 IU/L	NA
White blood cells	>500/μL	250-500/μL
NA = Not applicable.

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Author

Liudvikas Jagminas, MD, FACEP Chief of Service, Attending Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Vice-Chair for Network Development, Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess and Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians; Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Liudvikas Jagminas, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP Nurse Planner, Medscape; Senior Clinical Professor of Nursing, George Washington University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Vikram Kate, MBBS, PhD, MS, FACS, FACG, FRCS, FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Glasg), FIMSA, FFST(Ed), MAMS, MASCRS Professor of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), India

Vikram Kate, MBBS, PhD, MS, FACS, FACG, FRCS, FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Glasg), FIMSA, FFST(Ed), MAMS, MASCRS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Fellow of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers (RCSEd), Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Erik D Schraga, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Associates

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Darius Jagminas for his rendition of a closed DPL.