Trends in the rates of radiography use and important diagnoses in emergency department patients with abdominal pain
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
7-2009
Journal
Medical Care
Volume
Volume 47, Issue 7
Inclusive Pages
782-786
Keywords
Abdominal Pain--diagnosis; Emergency Service, Hospital--trends; Emergency Treatment--trends; Tomography, X-Ray Computed--trends; Ultrasonography--trends; Emergent Care; Quality improvement
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) are used in emergency departments (ED) to aid in the diagnosis of patients with abdominal pain.
OBJECTIVES:
To describe trends in CT and US use in United States EDs and determine if higher test use is associated with higher detection rates for intra-abdominal illnesses commonly detected on CT and US and lower hospital admission rates.
RESEARCH DESIGN:
Retrospective study using the 2001 to 2005 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative sample of ED encounters.
SUBJECTS:
ED patients presenting with abdominal pain.
MEASURES:
Annual rates of and trends in CT and US use, rates of intra-abdominal illnesses, hospital admission rate.
RESULTS:
Abdominal pain visits accounted for 38.8 million encounters; 17.8% received a CT and 11.7% received an US. CT use increased from 10.1% in 2001 to 22.5% in 2005 (P < 0.001). US use increased from 11.1% in 2001 to 13.6% in 2005 (P = 0.002). During the same period, detection rates for appendicitis, diverticulitis, and gall bladder disease did not increase and admission rates did not decrease.
CONCLUSION:
Despite a more than doubling in CT use and increases in US use, there was no increase in detection rates for appendicitis, diverticulitis, and gall bladder disease nor was there a reduction in admissions.
APA Citation
Pines, J.M. (2009). Trends in the rates of radiography use and important diagnoses in emergency department patients with abdominal pain. Medical Care, 47(7), 782-786.
Peer Reviewed
1
