Introduction:
Non-traumatic acute abdominal pain (NTAAP) is a frequent reason for emergency department (ED) visits. Ultrasound is increasingly used as a diagnostic tool by emergency physicians for a variety of clinical problems. We investigated the effect of limited abdominal ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians on their early clinical decisions in patients with NTAAP.
Methods:
Over a five-month period, 413 patients presenting with NTAAP to the ED of our teritary-care university medical center were prospectively enrolled in the study. Decisions regarding diagnostic testing, consultations, and disposition were recorded after initial clinical evaluation. After limited abdominal ultrasonography was performed by the emergency physicians, the same decisions regarding diagnostic testing, consultations, and disposition were again recorded.
Results:
Decisions regarding laboratory studies (p=0.000), consultation (p=.001), and admission (p=0.000) were significantly different before and after ultrasonography. Overall, ultrasonography changed the clinical decision in 29% of patients (p=0.000). These changes were important particularly for patients who needed admission.
Discussion:
Ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians changed the physician's early clinical decisions in a significant proportion of patients with NTAAP.
Keywords: Emergency physicians, abdominal pain, ultrasonography, clinical decision