OBJECTIVE: To create a simplified clinical algorithm for the triage of children with abdominal pain. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario. METHODS: A data mining methodology (rough sets analysis) was applied to a randomized data set obtained from 175 emergency room admission charts of patients. Patients were placed into two diagnostic decision classes: appendicitis confirmed by a pathological report, and resolution (this classification implied the resolution of all clinical complaints and physical findings, with no pathological diagnosis and no operative procedure). RESULTS: Nine clinical symptoms and signs were identified as being important in the management of children with abdominal pain. A clinically based algorithm for the triage of such children was developed. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to develop a clinical algorithm for the triage of children with abdominal pain that can also be used by nonmedical professionals. A template for such an algorithm can be used as the basis for diagnosing other paediatric emergencies, such as chest pain, headaches and joint pain.
OBJECTIVE: To create a simplified clinical algorithm for the triage of children with abdominal pain. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario. METHODS: A data mining methodology (rough sets analysis) was applied to a randomized data set obtained from 175 emergency room admission charts of patients. Patients were placed into two diagnostic decision classes: appendicitis confirmed by a pathological report, and resolution (this classification implied the resolution of all clinical complaints and physical findings, with no pathological diagnosis and no operative procedure). RESULTS: Nine clinical symptoms and signs were identified as being important in the management of children with abdominal pain. A clinically based algorithm for the triage of such children was developed. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to develop a clinical algorithm for the triage of children with abdominal pain that can also be used by nonmedical professionals. A template for such an algorithm can be used as the basis for diagnosing other paediatric emergencies, such as chest pain, headaches and joint pain.
Authors: M Galindo Gallego; B Fadrique; M A Nieto; S Calleja; M J Fernández-Aceñero; G Ais; J González; J J Manzanares Journal: Br J Surg Date: 1998-01 Impact factor: 6.939
Authors: D E Roberts; D D Bell; T Ostryzniuk; K Dobson; L Oppenheimer; D Martens; N Honcharik; H Cramp; E Loewen; S Bodnar Journal: Crit Care Med Date: 1993-10 Impact factor: 7.598