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Gan T, Liu X, Liu R, Huang J, Liu D, Tu W, Song J, Cai P, Shen H, Wang W. Machine learning based prediction models for analyzing risk factors in patients with acute abdominal pain: a retrospective study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1354925. [PMID: 38903814 PMCID: PMC11188420 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1354925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Acute abdominal pain (AAP) is a common symptom presented in the emergency department (ED), and it is crucial to have objective and accurate triage. This study aims to develop a machine learning-based prediction model for AAP triage. The goal is to identify triage indicators for critically ill patients and ensure the prompt availability of diagnostic and treatment resources. Methods In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients admitted to the ED of Wuhan Puren Hospital with acute abdominal pain in 2019. To identify high-risk factors, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used with thirty-one predictor variables. Evaluation of eight machine learning triage prediction models was conducted using both test and validation cohorts to optimize the AAP triage prediction model. Results Eleven clinical indicators with statistical significance (p < 0.05) were identified, and they were found to be associated with the severity of acute abdominal pain. Among the eight machine learning models constructed from the training and test cohorts, the model based on the artificial neural network (ANN) demonstrated the best performance, achieving an accuracy of 0.9792 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9972. Further optimization results indicate that the AUC value of the ANN model could reach 0.9832 by incorporating only seven variables: history of diabetes, history of stroke, pulse, blood pressure, pale appearance, bowel sounds, and location of the pain. Conclusion The ANN model is the most effective in predicting the triage of AAP. Furthermore, when only seven variables are considered, including history of diabetes, etc., the model still shows good predictive performance. This is helpful for the rapid clinical triage of AAP patients and the allocation of medical resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Gan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaochao Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dingxi Liu
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenfei Tu
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiao Song
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengli Cai
- School of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hexiao Shen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Maintainbiotech. Ltd. (Wuhan), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wuhan Puren Hospital, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Long B, Werner J, Gottlieb M. Emergency medicine updates: Acute diverticulitis. Am J Emerg Med 2024; 76:1-6. [PMID: 37956503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.10.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute diverticulitis is a condition commonly seen in the emergency department (ED). Therefore, it is important for emergency medicine clinicians to be aware of the current evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of this disease. OBJECTIVE This paper evaluates key evidence-based updates concerning acute diverticulitis for the emergency clinician. DISCUSSION Diverticulitis is a complication of diverticulosis and most commonly affects the sigmoid and descending colon in Western countries. History and examination can suggest the diagnosis, with abdominal pain and tenderness in the left lower quadrant being the most common symptom and sign, respectively. Change in bowel habits and fever may also occur. Laboratory testing may demonstrate leukocytosis or an elevated C-reactive protein. Imaging options can include computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound (US), though most classification systems for diverticulitis incorporate CT findings. While the majority of diverticulitis cases are uncomplicated, complications may affect up to 25% of patients. Treatment of complicated diverticulitis requires antibiotics and surgical consultation. Antibiotics are not required in select patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis. Appropriate patients for supportive care without antibiotics should be well-appearing, have pain adequately controlled, be able to tolerate oral intake, be able to follow up, have no complications, and have no immunocompromise or severe comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS An understanding of literature updates can improve the ED care of patients with acute diverticulitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brit Long
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Jessie Werner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, UCSF Fresno, Fresno, CA, USA
| | - Michael Gottlieb
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Brooks D, Smiles JP, Murphy AP, Cowan T, Soeyland T, Hullick C, Arendts G. Assessment and management of older patients with abdominal pain in the emergency department. Emerg Med Australas 2024; 36:149-158. [PMID: 38176903 DOI: 10.1111/1742-6723.14361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Brooks
- Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John P Smiles
- John Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew P Murphy
- Gosford Hospital, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Timothy Cowan
- John Hunter Hospital, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Torgrim Soeyland
- Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Mid-North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Caroyln Hullick
- Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle and Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine, Belmont Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Glenn Arendts
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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4
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Weinstein S, Kim DH, Fowler KJ, Birkholz JH, Cash BD, Cilenti E, Dane B, Horvat N, Kambadakone AR, Korngold EK, Liu PS, Lo BM, McCrary M, Mellnick V, Pietryga JA, Santillan CS, Zukotynski K, Carucci LR. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Left Lower Quadrant Pain: 2023 Update. J Am Coll Radiol 2023; 20:S471-S480. [PMID: 38040465 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The differential diagnosis for left lower quadrant pain is wide and conditions range from the benign and self-limited to life-threatening surgical emergencies. Along with patient history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, imaging is often critical to limit the differential diagnosis and identify life-threatening abnormalities. This document will discuss the guidelines for the appropriate use of imaging in the initial workup for patients who present with left lower quadrant pain, patients with suspected diverticulitis, and patients with suspected complications from diverticulitis. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David H Kim
- Panel Chair, University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Kathryn J Fowler
- Panel Vice-Chair, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - James H Birkholz
- Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Brooks D Cash
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas; American Gastroenterological Association
| | - Elizabeth Cilenti
- MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, Primary care physician
| | - Bari Dane
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Natally Horvat
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | | | | | | | - Bruce M Lo
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital/Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia; American College of Emergency Physicians
| | - Marion McCrary
- Duke Signature Care, Durham, North Carolina; American College of Physicians
| | - Vincent Mellnick
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Saint Louis, Missouri; Committee on Emergency Radiology-GSER
| | - Jason A Pietryga
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Katherine Zukotynski
- McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Commission on Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
| | - Laura R Carucci
- Specialty Chair, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia
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5
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Narita C, Clements W, Varma D. Assessing the necessity of intravenous contrast for computed tomography in the acute undifferentiated abdomen. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2023; 67:710-716. [PMID: 37403895 DOI: 10.1111/1754-9485.13559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Undifferentiated abdominal pain in the emergency setting is frequently investigated with an intravenous contrast enhanced CT as a first line diagnostic test. However, global contrast shortages restricted the use of contrast for a period in 2022, altering standard practice with many scans performed without intravenous contrast. Whilst IV contrast can be useful to assist with interpretation, its necessity in the setting of acute undifferentiated abdominal pain is not well described, and its use comes with its own risks. This study aimed to assess the shortcomings of omitting IV contrast in an emergency setting, by comparing the rate of CT scans with "indeterminate" findings with and without the use of IV contrast. METHODS Data from presentations to a single centre emergency department for undifferentiated abdominal pain prior to and during contrast shortages in June 2022 were retrospectively compared. The primary outcome was the rate of diagnostic uncertainty, where the presence or absence of intra-abdominal pathology could not be ascertained. RESULTS 12/85 (14.1%) of the unenhanced abdominal CT scans provided an uncertain result, compared with 14/101 (13.9%) of control cases performed with intravenous contrast (P = 0.96). There were also similar rates of positive and negative findings between the groups. CONCLUSION Omitting intravenous contrast for abdominal CT in the setting of undifferentiated abdominal pain demonstrated no significant difference in the rate of diagnostic uncertainty. There are significant potential patient, fiscal and societal benefits as well as potential improvements to emergency department efficiency with the reduction of unnecessary intravenous contrast administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Narita
- Department of Radiology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warren Clements
- Department of Radiology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- National Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dinesh Varma
- Department of Radiology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Monash University Central Clinical School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- National Trauma Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Hou C, Hafeez S, Okun J, Chaudhry H, Dym RJ. "Learning From Disaster: What Past Events Can Teach Radiology Departments about Planning for a Mass Casualty Incident". Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 2023; 52:418-424. [PMID: 37268454 DOI: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2023.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The increased frequency of mass shootings, terror attacks, and natural disasters in recent years have presented challenges to provision of quality medical care in both short and long-term stressful situations. While emergency departments and trauma surgeons are usually the face of the response to mass casualty incidents (MCI), other departments such as radiology are often active participants in caring for these patients but may not be as well prepared. In this article, we review nine papers describing the experiences of various radiology departments with specific MCIs and the lessons they learned from those experiences. By analysis of common themes raised in these papers, we hope to enable departments to incorporate these lessons into their disaster plans to enhance their preparedness for such events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Hou
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Sonia Hafeez
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Jared Okun
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Humaira Chaudhry
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Robert Joshua Dym
- Department of Radiology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ.
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Shaish H, Ream J, Huang C, Troost J, Gaur S, Chung R, Kim S, Patel H, Newhouse JH, Khalatbari S, Davenport MS. Diagnostic Accuracy of Unenhanced Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Acute Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department. JAMA Surg 2023; 158:e231112. [PMID: 37133836 PMCID: PMC10157504 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Importance Intravenous (IV) contrast medium is sometimes withheld due to risk of complication or lack of availability in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) for abdominal pain. The risk from withholding contrast medium is understudied. Objective To determine the diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced abdominopelvic CT using contemporaneous contrast-enhanced CT as the reference standard in emergency department (ED) patients with acute abdominal pain. Design, Setting, and Participants This was an institutional review board-approved, multicenter retrospective diagnostic accuracy study of 201 consecutive adult ED patients who underwent dual-energy contrast-enhanced CT for the evaluation of acute abdominal pain from April 1, 2017, through April 22, 2017. Three blinded radiologists interpreted these scans to establish the reference standard by majority rule. IV and oral contrast media were then digitally subtracted using dual-energy techniques. Six different blinded radiologists from 3 institutions (3 specialist faculty and 3 residents) interpreted the resulting unenhanced CT examinations. Participants included a consecutive sample of ED patients with abdominal pain who underwent dual-energy CT. Exposure Contrast-enhanced and virtual unenhanced CT derived from dual-energy CT. Main outcome Diagnostic accuracy of unenhanced CT for primary (ie, principal cause[s] of pain) and actionable secondary (ie, incidental findings requiring management) diagnoses. The Gwet interrater agreement coefficient was calculated. Results There were 201 included patients (female, 108; male, 93) with a mean age of 50.1 (SD, 20.9) years and mean BMI of 25.5 (SD, 5.4). Overall accuracy of unenhanced CT was 70% (faculty, 68% to 74%; residents, 69% to 70%). Faculty had higher accuracy than residents for primary diagnoses (82% vs 76%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.83; 95% CI, 1.26-2.67; P = .002) but lower accuracy for actionable secondary diagnoses (87% vs 90%; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.93; P < .001). This was because faculty made fewer false-negative primary diagnoses (38% vs 62%; OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.13-0.41; P < .001) but more false-positive actionable secondary diagnoses (63% vs 37%; OR, 2.11, 95% CI, 1.26-3.54; P = .01). False-negative (19%) and false-positive (14%) results were common. Interrater agreement for overall accuracy was moderate (Gwet agreement coefficient, 0.58). Conclusion Unenhanced CT was approximately 30% less accurate than contrast-enhanced CT for evaluating abdominal pain in the ED. This should be balanced with the risk of administering contrast material to patients with risk factors for kidney injury or hypersensitivity reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiram Shaish
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Justin Ream
- Department of Radiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Chenchan Huang
- Department of Radiology, New York University Langone, New York
| | - Jonathan Troost
- Michigan Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Ann Arbor
| | - Sonia Gaur
- Department of Radiology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
| | - Ryan Chung
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Sooah Kim
- Department of Radiology, New York University Langone, New York
| | - Hanisha Patel
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | | | | | - Matthew S. Davenport
- Department of Radiology and Urology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
- Michigan Radiology Quality Collaborative, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor
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8
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Calimano-Ramirez LF, Hernandez M, Singh A, Gumus KZ, Marfori W, Virarkar MK, Lall C, Gopireddy DR. Quality assurance for non-contrast CT of the abdomen and pelvis during a period of supply chain disruption leading to iodinated contrast shortage in the emergency department setting. J Clin Imaging Sci 2023; 13:8. [PMID: 36895661 PMCID: PMC9990841 DOI: 10.25259/jcis_142_2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Iodinated contrast media (ICM) shortage crisis due to COVID-19 lockdowns led to a need for alternate imaging protocols consisting of non-contrast computed tomography (CT) for abdominal complaints and related trauma indications in emergency department (ED) settings. This quality assurance study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes of protocol modifications during ICM shortage and identify potential imaging misdiagnosis of acute abdominal complaints and related trauma. Material and Methods The study included 424 ED patients with abdominal pain, falls, or motor vehicle collision (MVC)-related trauma who had non-contrast CT of the abdomen and pelvis in May 2022. We accessed the initial complaint, order indication, non-contrast CT results, any acute or incidental findings, and any follow-up imaging of the same body region with their results. We evaluated their association utilizing Chi-squared tests. We assessed sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values using follow-up scan confirmation. Results Across initial complaint categories, 72.9% of cases were abdominal pain, and 37.3% received positive findings. Only 22.6% of patients had follow-up imaging. Most confirmed original reports were for abdominal pain. We also found three reports of missed findings. There were significant associations between complaint categories and initial non-contrast CT report results (P < 0.001), as well as initial complaint categories and whether the patient received follow-up imaging or not (P < 0.004). No significant associations were found between follow-up imaging results and initial report confirmation. Non-contrast CT had 94% sensitivity and 100% specificity, with positive and negative predictive values 100% and 94%, respectively. Conclusion Rate of missed acute diagnoses using non-contrast CT for patients presenting to the ED with acute abdominal complaints or related trauma has been low during the recent shortage, but further investigation would be needed to verify and quantify the implications of not routinely giving oral or intravenous contrast in the ED.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauricio Hernandez
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Anmol Singh
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Kazim Ziya Gumus
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Wanda Marfori
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Mayur K Virarkar
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Chandana Lall
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
| | - Dheeraj Reddy Gopireddy
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
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Fugazzola P, Ceresoli M, Coccolini F, Gabrielli F, Puzziello A, Monzani F, Amato B, Sganga G, Sartelli M, Menichetti F, Puglisi GA, Tartaglia D, Carcoforo P, Avenia N, Kluger Y, Paolillo C, Zago M, Leppäniemi A, Tomasoni M, Cobianchi L, Dal Mas F, Improta M, Moore EE, Peitzman AB, Sugrue M, Agnoletti V, Fraga GP, Weber DG, Damaskos D, Abu-Zidan FM, Wani I, Kirkpatrick AW, Pikoulis M, Pararas N, Tan E, Broek RT, Maier RV, Davies RJ, Kashuk J, Shelat VG, Mefire AC, Augustin G, Magnone S, Poiasina E, De Simone B, Chiarugi M, Biffl W, Baiocchi GL, Catena F, Ansaloni L. The WSES/SICG/ACOI/SICUT/AcEMC/SIFIPAC guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of acute left colonic diverticulitis in the elderly. World J Emerg Surg 2022; 17:5. [PMID: 35063008 PMCID: PMC8781436 DOI: 10.1186/s13017-022-00408-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute left colonic diverticulitis (ALCD) in the elderly presents with unique epidemiological features when compared with younger patients. The clinical presentation is more nuanced in the elderly population, having higher in-hospital and postoperative mortality. Furthermore, geriatric comorbidities are a risk factor for complicated diverticulitis. Finally, elderly patients have a lower risk of recurrent episodes and, in case of recurrence, a lower probability of requiring urgent surgery than younger patients. The aim of the present work is to study age-related factors that may support a unique approach to the diagnosis and treatment of this problem in the elderly when compared with the WSES guidelines for the management of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis. During the 1° Pisa Workshop of Acute Care & Trauma Surgery held in Pisa (Italy) in September 2019, with the collaboration of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), the Italian Society of Geriatric Surgery (SICG), the Italian Hospital Surgeons Association (ACOI), the Italian Emergency Surgery and Trauma Association (SICUT), the Academy of Emergency Medicine and Care (AcEMC) and the Italian Society of Surgical Pathophysiology (SIFIPAC), three panel members presented a number of statements developed for each of the four themes regarding the diagnosis and management of ALCD in older patients, formulated according to the GRADE approach, at a Consensus Conference where a panel of experts participated. The statements were subsequently debated, revised, and finally approved by the Consensus Conference attendees. The current paper is a summary report of the definitive guidelines statements on each of the following topics: diagnosis, management, surgical technique and antibiotic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fugazzola
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, General Surgery, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Marco Ceresoli
- General Surgery Department, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Monza, Italy
| | - Federico Coccolini
- Emergency Surgery Unit, State University of Pisa, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Gabrielli
- General Surgery Department, School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Monza, Italy
| | - Alessandro Puzziello
- Department of Surgery and Transplants, AOU San Giovanni di Dio and Ruggi d'Aragona, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Fabio Monzani
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Bruno Amato
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sganga
- Emergency Surgery and Trauma, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Menichetti
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Dario Tartaglia
- Emergency Surgery Unit, State University of Pisa, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paolo Carcoforo
- Department of Surgery, S. Anna University Hospital and University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicola Avenia
- Medical School, General Surgery and Surgical Specialties Unit, S. Maria University Hospital University of Perugia, Terni, Italy
| | - Yoram Kluger
- Division of General Surgery, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ciro Paolillo
- Emergency Room Brescia Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Mauro Zago
- Department of Robotic and Emergency Surgery, Manzoni Hospital, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy
| | - Ari Leppäniemi
- Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matteo Tomasoni
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, General Surgery, Pavia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cobianchi
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, General Surgery, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Dal Mas
- Department of Management, Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK
| | | | - Ernest E Moore
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Andrew B Peitzman
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, UPMC-Presbyterian, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael Sugrue
- Donegal Clinical Research Academy, Emergency Surgery Outcome Project, Letterkenny University Hospital, Donegal, Ireland
| | | | - Gustavo P Fraga
- Surgery Department, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM), Unicamp Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Dieter G Weber
- Department of General Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Fikri M Abu-Zidan
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Imtiaz Wani
- Department of Minimal Access and General Surgery, Government Gousia Hospital, Sringar, Kashmir, India
| | - Andrew W Kirkpatrick
- General, Acute Care, Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, and Trauma Surgery, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Manos Pikoulis
- 3Rd Department of Surgery, Attiko Hospital, MSc "Global Health-Disaster Medicine", National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Pararas
- General Surgery, Dr Sulaiman Al Habib/Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Edward Tan
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Ten Broek
- Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald V Maier
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - R Justin Davies
- Cambridge Colorectal Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jeffry Kashuk
- Department of Surgery, Assia Medical Group, Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Vishal G Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Goran Augustin
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stefano Magnone
- General Surgery I, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Elia Poiasina
- General Surgery I, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Belinda De Simone
- Department of General and Metabolic Surgery, Poissy and Saint Germain en Laye Hospitals, Poissy, France
| | - Massimo Chiarugi
- Emergency Surgery Unit, State University of Pisa, Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Walt Biffl
- Trauma Surgery Department, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gian Luca Baiocchi
- Department of General Surgery, ASST Cremona, University of Brescia, Cremona, Italy
| | - Fausto Catena
- General and Emergency Surgery Department, Bufalini Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Luca Ansaloni
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, General Surgery, Pavia, Italy
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Humbert C, Grillet F, Malakhia A, Meuriot F, Lakkis Z, Piton G, Vuitton L, Loffroy R, Calame P, Delabrousse E. Stratification of sigmoid volvulus early recurrence risk using a combination of CT features. Diagn Interv Imaging 2022; 103:79-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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Acute Appendicitis in the Elderly: A Literature Review on an Increasingly Frequent Surgical Problem. Geriatrics (Basel) 2021; 6:geriatrics6030093. [PMID: 34562994 PMCID: PMC8482159 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics6030093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
With increased life expectancy and the growing total population of elderly patients, there has been rise in the number of cases of acute appendicitis in elderly people. Although acute appendicitis is not the most typical pathological condition in the elderly, it is not uncommon. Most of these patients require surgical treatment, and as with any acute surgical pathology in advanced age, treatment possibilities are affected by comorbidities, overall health status, and an increased risk of complications. In this literature review we discuss differences in acute appendicitis in the elderly population, with a focus on clinical signs, diagnostics, pathogenesis, treatment, and results.
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12
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Lebert P, Ernst O, Zins M, Lanchou M, Nzamushe JR, Vermersch M. Pneumatosis intestinalis and portal venous gas in mechanical small bowel obstruction: Is it worrisome? Diagn Interv Imaging 2021; 102:545-551. [PMID: 34030989 DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) and portal venous gas (PVG) in patients with mechanical small bowel obstruction (SBO), using surgical findings or clinical follow-up as standard of reference. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fourteen patients with mechanical SBO associated with PI and PVG were retrospectively included. There were 7 men and 7 women with a mean age of 59±19 (SD) (range: 25-93 years). CT examinations were reviewed by two radiologists to confirm the diagnosis of mechanical SBO and make a description of PI. Interobserver agreement was calculated. The reference standard was intraoperative appearance of the bowel wall (10/14; 71%) or the recovery of a normal bowel function in patients who were managed conservatively (4/14; 29%). RESULTS Among the 10 patients who underwent surgery, a normal appearance of the bowel in association with PI on CT was found intraoperatively in 8/10 (80%) patients and a reversible ischemia in the remaining 2/10 (20%) patients. The four patients who were managed conservatively recovered normal bowel function. Two patients died within two weeks following SBO. CONCLUSION PI and PVG are not specific signs of bowel necrosis in mechanical SBO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Lebert
- Department of Digestive Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille Cedex, France.
| | - Olivier Ernst
- Department of Digestive Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Marc Zins
- Department of Radiology, Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Marie Lanchou
- Department of Digestive Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Jean-Robert Nzamushe
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Mathilde Vermersch
- Department of Digestive Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lille University Hospital, 59037 Lille Cedex, France
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13
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Tan VF, Mellnick VM, Patlas MN. Utility of enteric contrast material in abdominal penetrating trauma: A narrative review. Diagn Interv Imaging 2021; 102:471-477. [PMID: 33933382 DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Penetrating trauma is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. With the possibility of conservative management for hemodynamically stable trauma patient, computed tomography (CT) has become an important tool in diagnosis and management of penetrating trauma. There have been multiple studies examining the utility and lack of perceived benefit of using enteric contrast material in the initial CT evaluation. We provide a narrative review of the surgical and radiological literature, offer our own protocol for how to approach the imaging of patients with suspected bowel injury following penetrating traumatic injury and discuss the potential of using enteric contrast material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria F Tan
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 4A6.
| | - Vincent M Mellnick
- Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael N Patlas
- Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8L 2X2
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14
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Nicolan B, Greffier J, Dabli D, de Forges H, Arcis E, Al Zouabi N, Larbi A, Beregi JP, Frandon J. Diagnostic performance of ultra-low dose versus standard dose CT for non-traumatic abdominal emergencies. Diagn Interv Imaging 2021; 102:379-387. [PMID: 33714689 DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of ultra-low dose (ULD) to that of standard (STD) computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies using clinical follow-up as reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS All consecutive patients requiring emergency abdomen-pelvic CT examination from March 2017 to September 2017 were prospectively included. ULD and STD CTs were acquired after intravenous administration iodinated contrast medium (portal phase). CT acquisitions were performed at 125mAs for STD and 55mAs for ULD. Diagnostic performance was retrospectively evaluated on ULD and STD CTs using clinical follow-up as a reference diagnosis. RESULTS A total of 308 CT examinations from 308 patients (145 men; mean age 59.1±20.7 (SD) years; age range: 18-96 years) were included; among which 241/308 (78.2%) showed abnormal findings. The effective dose was significantly lower with the ULD protocol (1.55±1.03 [SD] mSv) than with the STD (3.67±2.56 [SD] mSv) (P<0.001). Sensitivity was significantly lower for the ULD protocol (85.5% [95%CI: 80.4-89.4]) than for the STD (93.4% [95%CI: 89.4-95.9], P<0.001) whereas specificities were similar (94.0% [95%CI: 85.1-98.0] vs. 95.5% [95%CI: 87.0-98.9], respectively). ULD sensitivity was equivalent to STD for bowel obstruction and colitis/diverticulitis (96.4% [95%CI: 87.0-99.6] and 86.5% [95%CI: 74.3-93.5] for ULD vs. 96.4% [95%CI: 87.0-99.6] and 88.5% [95%CI: 76.5-94.9] for STD, respectively) but lower for appendicitis, pyelonephritis, abscesses and renal colic (75.0% [95%CI: 57.6-86.9]; 77.3% [95%CI: 56.0-90.1]; 90.5% [95%CI: 69.6-98.4] and 85% [95%CI: 62.9-95.4] for ULD vs. 93.8% [95%CI: 78.6-99.2]; 95.5% [95%CI: 76.2-100.0]; 100.0% [95%CI: 81.4-100.0] and 100.0% [95%CI: 80.6-100.0] for STD, respectively). Sensitivities were significantly different between the two protocols only for appendicitis (P=0.041). CONCLUSION In an emergency context, for patients with non-traumatic abdominal emergencies, ULD-CT showed inferior diagnostic performance compared to STD-CT for most abdominal conditions except for bowel obstruction and colitis/diverticulitis detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basien Nicolan
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Joël Greffier
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Djamel Dabli
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Hélène de Forges
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Elise Arcis
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Nadir Al Zouabi
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Ahmed Larbi
- ISERIS imagerie médicale, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Paul Beregi
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France
| | - Julien Frandon
- Department of Medical Imaging, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Medical Imaging Group Nîmes, EA 2415, 30000 Nîmes, France.
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Intestinal intussusception: A rare presentation of Kaposi sarcoma. Diagn Interv Imaging 2021; 102:397-398. [PMID: 33637476 DOI: 10.1016/j.diii.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Wu C, Zhu X, Ren H, Tan F, Liu X. Intestinal fatty acid-binding protein as a biomarker for the diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction: A meta-analysis. Open Med (Wars) 2021; 16:264-273. [PMID: 33623822 PMCID: PMC7885302 DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to clarify the value of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) for the early diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction through a meta-analysis. Methods A search was performed on PubMed, EBSCO, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and WanFang for studies on the diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction based on I-FABP. Endnote X9 software and the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies 2 (QUADAS-2) were used to screen the studies and evaluate their quality, respectively. Meta-Disc 1.4 and Stata 15.1 software were used to perform the assessment of heterogeneity and meta-analysis. Result A total of eight studies were included, Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.703 (P = 0.078), suggesting that there was no threshold effect. The pooled results of the meta-analysis were as follows: sensitivity: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.66–0.81), specificity: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.71–0.91), positive likelihood ratio (PLR): 4.35 (95% CI: 2.57–7.36), negative likelihood ratio (NLR): 0.31 (95% CI: 0.24–0.39), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR): 14.19 (95% CI: 8.08–24.92). The area under the curve was 0.83. There was obvious heterogeneity among the studies. Conclusion I-FABP is very valuable for the early diagnosis of strangulated intestinal obstruction and can be used to distinguish strangulated intestinal obstruction from intestinal obstruction in a timely manner, enabling accurate planning of the timing of surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Wu
- Emergency Department, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xuehe Zhu
- Emergency Department, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Haipeng Ren
- Emergency Department, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Fuyong Tan
- The Medical Examination Center, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Xudong Liu
- Emergency Department, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010050, Inner Mongolia, China
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Sangiorgio G, Biondi A, Basile F, Vacante M. Acute abdominal pain in older adults: a clinical and diagnostic challenge. MINERVA CHIR 2020; 75:169-172. [PMID: 32550726 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4733.20.08266-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abdominal pain (AP) is one of the most frequent clinical condition observed in elderly patients. The differential diagnosis is wide and definitive diagnosis is often difficult due to delayed symptoms, altered laboratory parameters, pre-existing medical disorders, abuse of drugs and in absence of an accurate medical history. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic literature review was carried out through PubMed database for studies published in the last ten years. The following search string was used: {("geriatric"[Title] OR "older"[Title] OR "aged"[Title] OR "elderly"[Title]) AND ((("abdomen"[Title] AND "acute"[Title]) OR "acute abdomen"[Title] OR ("acute"[Title] AND "abdomen"[Title])) OR ("abdominal"[Title] AND "pain"[title]) OR "abdominal pain"[Title])}. Full articles and abstracts were included. Case reports, commentaries, editorials and letters were excluded from the analysis. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS As the age of people presenting AP advances, both rates of surgical procedures and mortality rate increase. CONCLUSIONS A systematic approach based on the organization of differential diagnoses into categories, may provide a helpful framework by the combined use of history-taking, physical examination, and results of diagnostic studies. In elderly patients admitted to the emergency department, a crucial role is played by a prompt use of radiological investigations in order to discriminate between older subjects admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain and pathological cases requiring immediate surgical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Sangiorgio
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Biondi
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesco Basile
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Marco Vacante
- Department of General Surgery and Medical-Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy -
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Intravenous Contrast Agent in Abdominal CT: Is It Really Needed to Identify the Cause of Bowel Obstruction? Proof of Concept. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2019; 2019:2350948. [PMID: 31582969 PMCID: PMC6748177 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2350948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background To compare sensitivity of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT for the identification of the etiology of bowel obstruction. Materials and Methods We retrospectively evaluated abdominal CT scans of patients operated for bowel obstruction from March 2013 to October 2017. Two radiologists evaluated CT scans before and after contrast agent in two reading sessions. Then, we calculated sensitivity of CT in the diagnosis of bowel obstruction and determined in which cases the etiology of bowel obstruction was detected on both unenhanced and enhanced CT or on enhanced CT only. The reference standard was defined as the final diagnosis obtained after surgery. Results Eighteen patients (mean age 72 ± 15 years, age range 37-88 years) were included in the study. Sensitivity of unenhanced CT and enhanced CT was not significantly different in either small bowel obstruction (64%, 7/11 patients vs. 73%, 8/11 patients; P = 0.6547) or large bowel obstruction (71%, 5/7 patients vs. 100%, 7/7 patients; P = 0.1410). Adhesions were identified on unenhanced CT as the etiology of small bowel obstruction in 80% (4/5) of patients. Tumors were identified on unenhanced CT as the etiology of large bowel obstruction in 67% (4/6) of patients. Conclusion In the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction due to adhesions with normal bowel wall thickening and when a neoplasm is identified as the etiology of large bowel obstruction on unenhanced CT, an intravenous contrast agent may be avoided for the identification of the etiology. In remaining cases, contrast agent is still recommended.
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