A catheter is introduced through the incision into the abdomen. Saline is infused into the abdomen through the catheter, and then removed. If blood is present in the saline after removal, it is highly probable that there is a serious intra-abmoninal injury.
Update Date: 9/13/2006
A.D.A.M. Medical Illustration Team: Meredith Nienkamp, M.S.M.I., Dan Johnson, M.S.M.I., Lisa Higginbotham, M.S.M.I. Review also provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
