A Russo1, S Cappabianca2, Francesco Iaselli3, A Reginelli2, A D'Andrea1, G Mazzei1, C Martiniello1, R Grassi2, A Rotondo2. 1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Ospedale San Giuseppe Moscati, Aversa, Italy. 2. Scientific Section of Radiology, Unit of Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Internal Medicine "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara", Primo Policlinico di Napoli, Second University of Naples, 5, Piazza Miraglia, 80131 Naples, Italy. 3. Scientific Section of Radiology, Unit of Radiology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Internal Medicine "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara", Primo Policlinico di Napoli, Second University of Naples, 5, Piazza Miraglia, 80131 Naples, Italy ; 118, Corso Umberto I, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the impact of ultrasonography on defining the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for pediatric patients admitted to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all patients aged <16 years with acute abdominal pain who underwent ultrasound examination at our Diagnostic Imaging Department from October 2010 to March 2012. We investigated for each patient the pathway following ultrasound examination and definitive diagnosis. The impact of ultrasonography was defined based on the frequency with which the information resulting from this examination confirmed or denied the diagnostic suspicion made by the emergency physician on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. RESULTS: In 497/729 patients (69 %), ultrasound examination did not determine variations in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, either because it confirmed the outcome of clinical examination and laboratory tests, or because, even addressing in the opposite direction to these, the emergency physician did not consider its result because of being particularly alarmed or sufficiently reassured by clinical examination and laboratory tests. In the remaining 232/729 cases (31 %), ultrasound examination determined an increase or a reduction of the provided care and attention (subsequently proved justified in the vast majority of cases) in spite of what was initially assessed based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our retrospective study demonstrated that ultrasonography was a valuable tool in the management of pediatric patients with acute abdominal pain together with clinical examination and laboratory tests.
PURPOSE: To assess the impact of ultrasonography on defining the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways for pediatric patients admitted to the emergency department for acute abdominal pain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all patients aged <16 years with acute abdominal pain who underwent ultrasound examination at our Diagnostic Imaging Department from October 2010 to March 2012. We investigated for each patient the pathway following ultrasound examination and definitive diagnosis. The impact of ultrasonography was defined based on the frequency with which the information resulting from this examination confirmed or denied the diagnostic suspicion made by the emergency physician on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings. RESULTS: In 497/729 patients (69 %), ultrasound examination did not determine variations in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, either because it confirmed the outcome of clinical examination and laboratory tests, or because, even addressing in the opposite direction to these, the emergency physician did not consider its result because of being particularly alarmed or sufficiently reassured by clinical examination and laboratory tests. In the remaining 232/729 cases (31 %), ultrasound examination determined an increase or a reduction of the provided care and attention (subsequently proved justified in the vast majority of cases) in spite of what was initially assessed based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our retrospective study demonstrated that ultrasonography was a valuable tool in the management of pediatric patients with acute abdominal pain together with clinical examination and laboratory tests.
Authors: A Pinto; S Romano; W Del Vecchio; L Romano; F Pinto; M Scaglione; S Cappabianca; R Grassi Journal: Radiol Med Date: 2000 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 3.469
Authors: M S Lessin; M Chan; M Catallozzi; M F Gilchrist; C Richards; L Manera; M T Wallach; F I Luks Journal: Am J Surg Date: 1999-03 Impact factor: 2.565