Quantifying the usefulness of CT in evaluating seniors with abdominal pain.
OBJECTIVE
(1) Determine if older patients with abdominal pain who receive emergency department (ED) abdominal CT have changes in diagnosis and/or disposition more often than similar patients without CT; (2) compare physician confidence in diagnosis and disposition for patients with versus without CT; (3) document factors that most influence physician's decision to order abdominal CT in this population.


METHODS
ED patients 60 years of age or older, with acute non-traumatic abdominal pain were enrolled over a 6-week period. Physicians documented a preliminary and final ED diagnosis and disposition, along with pre- and post-evaluation confidence levels. Decision to order CT, along with clinical information most influencing that decision, was noted. Physician confidence levels and percent change in diagnosis and disposition were compared for patients with versus without CT.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty-six patients comprised study sample. Abdominal CT rate was 59% (95%CI, 50-67%). CT was associated with an increased change in diagnosis (46%; 95%CI, 4-58% versus 29%; 95%CI, 16-42%), but no change in disposition between patients with versus without CT. Preliminary diagnostic confidence was lower for EPs who ordered a CT than for those who did not (p<0.001). Patient history most influenced ordering CT, whereas prior lab/imaging results most influenced not ordering CT.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with CT had a change in diagnosis more often than those without. Preliminary diagnostic confidence was lower in CT group. Percent change in disposition did not differ between groups. Physicians most often ordered CT based on history and did not order CT when other diagnostic evaluation supported a specific diagnosis.
Lewis
Lawrence M
LM
Campus Box 8072, Division of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. lewisl@msnotes.wustl.edu
Klippel
Allen P
AP
Bavolek
Rebecca A
RA
Ross
Laura M
LM
Scherer
Tara M
TM
Banet
Gerald A
GA
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*