A comparison of test-ordering choices of college physicians and emergency physicians for young adults with abdominal pain: influences and preferences for CT use

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 455-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen R. Baker ◽  
Paul H. Susman ◽  
Lucas Sheen ◽  
Lawrence Pan
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Test Ordering

scholarly journals Role of emergency physician–performed ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-86
Author(s):  
Nalan Kozaci ◽  
Mustafa Avci ◽  
Gul Tulubas ◽  
Ertan Ararat ◽  
Omer Faruk Karakoyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Emergency Physician ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Free Fluid ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Abdominal Ultrasonography

Objectives: This prospective study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bedside point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography performed by emergency physician in patients with non-traumatic acute abdominal pain. Methods: The patients, who were admitted to emergency department due to abdominal pain, were included in this study. The emergency physician obtained a routine history, physical examination, blood draws, and ordered diagnostic imaging. After the initial clinical examinations, all the patients underwent ultrasonography for abdominal pathologies by emergency physician and radiologist, respectively. Point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography compared with abdominal ultrasonography performed by radiologist as the gold standard. Results: The study included 122 patients. Gallbladder and appendix pathologies were the most commonly detected in the abdominal ultrasonography. Compared with abdominal ultrasonography, point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography was found to have 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity in gallbladder pathologies; 91% sensitivity and 91% specificity in acute appendicitis; 79% sensitivity and 97% specificity in abdominal free fluid; 83% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ovarian pathologies. Compared to final diagnosis, preliminary diagnoses of emergency physicians were correct in 92 (75.4%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that emergency physicians were successful in identifying abdominal organ pathologies with point-of-care abdominal ultrasonography after training.

Abdominal Tuberculosis in Ahmadi, Kuwait: A Clinico-Pathological Review

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naser UAMA Abdul-Ghaffar ◽  
Ibrahim Tarif Ramadan ◽  
Amin Ali Marafie
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Appendicitis ◽  
Intestinal Obstruction ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Abdominal Tuberculosis ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Pathological Review ◽  
Antituberculous Chemotherapy

For studying abdominal tuberculosis (TB) in Ahmadi, files of all patients admitted to our hospital with abdominal TB over 15 years (1981–1996) were reviewed. Nineteen patients are reported here. Young adults were predominant in our study. The non-Arab Asians were the most frequently affected group in relation to their population in Ahmadi, and Kuwaitis were the least frequently affected group. Abdominal pain, sweating, anorexia and fever were the most frequent presenting symptoms. Ascites and intestinal obstruction were the most frequent clinical presentations. Two patients presented with acute appendicitis and one patient had tuberculous pancreatitis. Abdominal lymph nodes, peritoneum, ileum and caecum were the most frequently affected abdominal structures. We found laparoscopy very helpful in the diagnosis of abdominal TB and we recommend it as the diagnostic method of choice. All our patients responded well to antituberculous chemotherapy. It should be kept in mind that abdominal TB still affects the indigenous and expatriate population of Kuwait.

scholarly journals MP58: Have opioid prescription by emergency physicians changed significantly over five years?

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S63-S63
Author(s):  
M. Wei ◽  
M. Da Silva ◽  
J. Perry
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Opioid Analgesia ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Opioid Prescription ◽  
Emergency Department Care ◽  
Undetermined Etiology

Introduction: It is believed by some that emergency physicians prescribe more opioids than required to manage patients’ pain, and this may contribute to opioid misuse. The objective of our study was to assess if there has been a change in opioid prescribing practices by emergency physicians over time for undifferentiated abdominal pain. Methods: A medical record review for adult patients presenting at two urban academic tertiary care emergency departments was conducted for two distinct time periods; the years of 2012 and 2017. The first 500 patients within each time period with a discharge diagnosis of “abdominal pain” or “abdominal pain not yet diagnosed” were included. Data were collected regarding analgesia received in the emergency department and opioid prescriptions written. Opioids were standardized into morphine equivalent doses to compare quantities of opioids prescribed. Analyses included t-test for continuous and chi-square for categorical data. Results: 1,000 patients were included in our study. The mean age was 42.0 years and 69.6% of patients were female. Comparing 2017 to 2012, there was a non-significant decrease in opioid prescriptions written for patients discharged directly by emergency physicians, from 17.8% to 14.4% (p = 0.14). Mean opioid quantities per prescription decreased from 130.4 milligrams of morphine equivalents per prescription to 98.9 milligrams per prescription (p = 0.002). 13.9% of opioid prescriptions in 2017 were for more than 3 days, which is a decrease from 28.1% in 2012. During the emergency department care, there was an increase in foundational analgesia use prior to initiating opioids from 17.6% to 26.8% (p = 0.001). There was also a decrease for within ED opioid analgesia use from 40.0% to 32.8% (p = 0.018). Conclusion: Opioid prescription rates did not change significantly during our study. However, physicians reduced the quantity of opioids per prescription and used less opioid analgesia in the emergency department for abdominal pain of undetermined etiology.

scholarly journals Abdominal pain: a survey of clinically important outcomes for future research

CJEM ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (06) ◽  
pp. 485-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Mills ◽  
Anthony J. Dean ◽  
Judd E. Hollander ◽  
Esther H. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Clinically Significant

ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to use the consensus opinion of a group of expert emergency physicians to derive a set of emergency diagnoses for acute abdominal pain that might be used as clinically significant outcomes for future research. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of emergency physicians with expertise in abdominal pain. These experts were authors of textbook chapters, peer-reviewed original research with a focus on abdominal pain or widely published clinical guidelines. Respondents were asked to categorize 50 possible diagnoses of acute abdominal pain into 1 of 3 categories: 1) unacceptable not to diagnose on the first emergency department (ED) visit; 2) although optimal to diagnose on first visit, failure to diagnose would not be expected to have serious adverse consequences provided the patient had follow-up within the next 2–7 days; 3) if not diagnosed during the first visit, unlikely to cause long-term risk to the patient provided the patient had follow-up within the next 1–2 months. Standard descriptive statistical analysis was used to summarize survey data. Results: Thirty emergency physicians completed the survey. Of 50 total diagnoses, 16 were categorized as “unacceptable not to diagnose in the ED” with greater than 85% agreement, and 12 were categorized as “acceptable not to diagnose in the ED” with greater than 85% agreement. Conclusion: Our study identifies a set of abdominal pain conditions considered by expert emergency physicians to be clinically important to diagnose during the initial ED visit. These diseases may be used as “clinically significant” outcomes for future research on abdominal pain.

scholarly journals A rare cause of neutropenic enterocolitis: Propylthiouracil-induced agranulocytosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 286-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vermi Degerli ◽  
Fulya Yilmaz Duran ◽  
Mustafa Kucuk ◽  
Ibrahim Atasoy
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Multiple Organ ◽  
Antithyroid Drugs ◽  
Gastrointestinal Complication ◽  
Emergency Physicians ◽  
Neutropenic Enterocolitis ◽  
High Clinical Suspicion ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
History Of

Introduction: Neutropenic enterocolitis is a life-threatening gastrointestinal complication of neutropenia that is rarely seen in adults. Neutropenic enterocolitis is more common in oncology patients, especially in those with leukemia. Antithyroid drugs are widely used to treat hyperthyroidism, but they can rarely cause agranulocytosis. Although the pathophysiology is not well understood, high clinical suspicion and immediate and appropriate treatment responses are essential to reduce the mortality rate of neutropenic enterocolitis. Case presentation: We present a case of a 57-year-old male patient who developed neutropenic enterocolitis as a result of agranulocytosis caused by the use of propylthiouracil. He had history of hyperthyroidism and was on propylthiouracil. He presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain but eventually died due to rapid deterioration of sepsis and multiple organ failure despite medical and surgical treatment. Discussion: Thioamides can cause agranulocytosis which can result in serious complication including neutropenic enterocolitis. Complete blood count must be monitored in patients receiving thioamides, and these patients should be educated on symptoms of agranulocytosis. Conclusion: Since patients with neutropenic enterocolitis are often evaluated first by emergency physicians, emergency physicians must be vigilant for neutropenic enterocolitis in patients with neutropenia and abdominal pain.

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