Rational use of CT-scanner Considering its Diagnostic Accuracy for the Management of Acute Abdomen: A single-Center Study

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to put forward the efficacy of abdominal CT performed for patients diagnosed with acute abdomen and to share our clinical findings in that regard. Methods: 216 patients who had been hospitalized in General Surgery Department due to acute abdomen had been analyzed retrospectively between October 2018 - January 2019. Abdominal computerized tomography (CT) results had been discussed in terms of diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes. Results: 171 (79.2%) patients (M/F:95/76 (55.6% / 44.4%)) had been evaluated by computerized tomography (CT) due to various causes of acute abdomen. Patients who had been scanned more than once (n=13 (7.6%)) during theirs’ hospitalization period had longer average length of stays compared to those whom had been scanned for only once (n=158 (92.4%)) (multiple scanned:17 days vs single scanned:3 days; p=0.000). Besides, single-scanned patients had showed higher clinical accuracy compared to those with multi-scans (80.4% vs 61.5%, p=0.126). 28 ileus (84.8%) patients had been scanned by non-enteral computerized tomography (CT), and 12 (36.4%) of them had been given false radiological reviews. Conclusion: Improper and redundant use of computerized tomography (CT) may cause prolongation of stays at the hospital, besides performing unnecessary scans do not improve diagnostic accuracy.

Keywords

• Acute abdomen
• radiology
• CT
• rectal contras