Following a high-speed collision with a commercial vehicle, a 29-year-old male cyclist is evaluated in the emergency department. He reports severe pain on the left side of his chest and abdomen. Vital signs show a blood pressure of 82/48 mm Hg, a heart rate of 132/min, and a respiratory rate of 24/min. Oxygen saturation is 98% on supplemental oxygen. The airway is secure, and the trachea is midline. Auscultation reveals clear and equal breath sounds bilaterally. There is a prominent transverse contusion across the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, consistent with a handlebar impact. The abdomen is tender to deep palpation in this region, but there is no involuntary guarding or rebound tenderness. The pelvis is mechanically stable to compression. Intravenous access is established, and a bolus of warmed isotonic crystalloid is initiated. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
- Focused assessment with sonography for traumaCevap
- BComputed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis
- CImmediate exploratory laparotomy
- DDiagnostic peritoneal lavage
- EObservation with serial abdominal examinations