[The relevance of sonography in the diagnosis of acute abdomen in the intensive care unit].

This study included 414 unselected sonographic examinations of the abdomen of patients in intensive care complaining of acute abdominal symptoms. Examinations of adequate quality showed a sensitivity of 88.8%, a specificity of 76.3% and an accuracy of 83.7%. Even when allowing for examination which could not be evaluated because of the presence of scars, bandages or air, there was a sensitivity of 72.9% and an accuracy of 74.2%. Sonography is therefore the examination of first choice. In a quarter of all cases, however, computer tomography examination was also necessary.