Role of Ultrasonogram in Acute Abdomen in a Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: Acute abdomen is a common presentation seen in the emergency department.Patients most commonly present with pain, which is a broad spectrum for assessment. Hence the clinician often needs an aid to come to a diagnosis. Ultrasonography is one of the leading imaging modality that helps to confirm the diagnosis made by the clinician.

Methodology: This was a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Radiology at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital between January 2021 to April 2021 with the objective to assess the efficacy of ultrasound in acute abdomen. Hundred patients who were admitted in the hospital with abdominal pain were chosen. Patients with the history of trauma, history of chronic abdominal pain and pregnant women were excluded from the study.Clinical history, physical examination, ultrasonogram, per-operative clinical findings and histopathological examination were used to come to the final conclusion.

Results: Out of hundred patients sixty-four (64%) were managed surgically. After obtaining histopathological results it was found that the sensitivity of ultrasound to diagnose a surgical condition was less compared to the histopathological investigation. The remaining thirty-six(36%) were managed medically after obtaining the diagnosis from ultrasound,lab investigations and higher imaging modalities like magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and computerized tomography(CT). The specificity of ultrasonogram was found to be really high while the sensitivity was less compared to other imaging modalities.

Conclusion: Ultrasonogram has established itself as a rapid,safe and cost effective imaging modality. It aids the clinician to come to a diagnosis or to confirm it leading to accurate treatment and patient survival.