[Role of ultrasonography in abdominal surgical emergencies. Our experience].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of ultrasonography in surgical patients in abdominal emergency in regard to the indication for immediate operation, delayed abdominal exploration, or conservative treatment.


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted after consecutive sampling of 98 patients in a control trial.


METHODS
The study was conducted at the University Hospital of Catania (Italy), which serves as a general community hospital.


METHODS
All patients with acute upper abdominal pain or blunt abdominal trauma were eligible for the study. A total of 110 patients were observed from 1990 to 1994, after plain X-ray of the abdomen in 12 patient was diagnosed visceral perforation and they went for immediate operation. The remaining 98 patients were divided into two groups: acute upper abdominal pain (56 patients) and blunt abdominal trauma (42 patients).


METHODS
Ultrasonography in the emergency department.


METHODS
Conservative or operative treatment based on ultrasonographic and clinical findings. RESULTS. Ultrasonography showed a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 52.6%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative predictive value of 100% in regard to the indication for surgery in cases of surgical abdominal emergency.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography saves time and money, can be performed in the emergency department, shows high sensitivity and specificity, and is the method of first choice in the evaluation of blunt trauma.
Cardì
F
F
Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Università' degli Studi di Catania.
Bucceri
A
A
Petralia
G
G
Catalano
F
F
Catania
G
G
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
Ruolo dell'ultrasonografia nelle urgenze chirurgiche addominali. Nostra esperienza.