Open AccessUltrasound scans done by surgeons for patients with acute abdominal pain: a prospective study
Author(s) -
Allemann Florin,
Cassina Paolo,
Röthlin Markus,
Largiadèr Felix
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
european journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1741-9271
pISSN - 1102-4151
DOI - 10.1080/110241599750008099
Subject(s) - medicine , prospective cohort study , abdominal pain , acute abdominal pain , ultrasonography , acute appendicitis , ultrasound , appendicitis , surgery , abdominal ultrasound , radiology , general surgery
Objective: To evaluate the routine use of abdominal ultrasonography (US) in patients admitted to the surgical emergency unit with acute abdominal pain. Design: Prospective study with a three‐step evaluation of patients over a 12‐month period. Setting: University hospital, Switzerland. Subjects: 496 patients (male/female = 234/262; mean age 45 years) who presented with acute abdominal pain. Interventions: Every patient underwent routine investigations and had an abdominal US by the attending surgeon. Main outcome measures: Clinical diagnosis, post‐ultrasonography diagnosis and final diagnosis. Results: US improved the correct diagnostic rate from 348 (70%) to 414 (83%). The diagnostic accuracy for acute appendicitis and biliary tract disease improved after US from 455 (92%) to 488 (98%) and from 463 (93%) to 490 (99%), respectively; the corresponding sensitivities and specificities were 91% and 99% and 94% and 99%. Conclusions: Ultrasonography should be part of routine surgical investigation and should be mastered and used by surgeons. Copyright © 1999 Taylor and Francis Ltd.