Volume : 5, Issue : 11, November - 2016

To evaluate clinico-radiological findings in acute abdomen

Abhishek Khatri, Satyashree B, Kartar Singh, Ramgopal Sharma, Amit Mittal, Rikki Singal

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;Background - Acute abdomen is the commonest presentation of patients to emergency department of any hospital and has always been a topic of debate regarding adequate clinical assessment and the judicial use of diagnostic armamentarium. Aims and objectives - To study clinical and radiological findings in acute abdomen. We correlated the clinico-radiological findings with operative findings wherever applicable. Material and methods - This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical and radiological findings in cases of acute abdomen. 150 patients presenting to emergency and out-patient department of MMIMSR, Mullana with acute abdomen were included in this study. History, thorough physical examination, X-ray abdomen, both erects and supine and ultrasonographical findings were taken. Results - Mean age was 39.9 years (range 12-90years), having an overall male preponderance (59.33%). Most common aetiology for acute abdomen in this study was of appendicular origin (19.33). Clinical assessment alone clinched the most common diagnosis of appendicitis (22.0%). Positive findings on X-ray Abdomen were seen in 32.66%. Maximum patients were managed conservative (38%). This study proves that maximum patients can be diagnosed correctly based on simple clinical examination and basic radiological investigations. Conclusion- Ultrasonography was overall the most helpful diagnostic tool in this study helping in diagnosis of maximum number of patients especially those with biliary and renal aetiology. Maximum patients were managed conservatively with excellent results, proving that sometimes patient observation is more important than immediate surgery, especially in cases of sub-acute intestinal obstruction and appendicular perforation. Overall diagnostic accuracy with simple clinical assessment and minimal radiological imaging studies was very good, proving the century old plain X-ray abdomen to be still useful mainly in evaluating gas shadows</p>