Routine investigations

Antero-posterior chest radiograph

To check for diaphragmatic injury, free air under the diaphragms and to exclude chest injury

Postero-anterior pelvic radiograph

To check for diaphragmatic injury, free air under the diaphragms and to exclude chest injury

Routine blood sampling, including serum amylase

Remember that a normal initial haemoglobin measurement before intravenous fluid resuscitation may be falsely reassuring. There will have been loss of whole blood, which will not yet have been replaced by crystalloid fluids. The resulting haemodilution after resuscitation will reflect the total body red cell concentration.

12-lead ECG

Epigastric injury may be associated with myocardial contusion

Urinalysis

Micro or macroscopic haematuria suggests renal injury

bHCG testing

This should be performed in all females of child-bearing age.