Demographic Profile and Findings of On-call Emergency Ultrasound: A Descriptive Study from Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasonography (USG) serves as a crucial diagnostic tool in emergency settings, extending beyond the assessment of the acute abdomen to encompass a wide range of acute conditions involving both superficial and deep soft tissue components of the body. Aim: To analyse the demographic profile and diagnostic findings associated with emergency USG requisitions at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Data from all emergency on-call ultrasound cases performed at TRIHMS from June 18, 2022, to June 17, 2023, were collected from the ultrasound room. A total of 258 cases of emergency ultrasounds were conducted. The age, sex and findings of emergency USG were analysed. Results were expressed in terms of frequency and percentages. Results: Among a total of 258 cases, 175 (67.8%) were females and 83 (32.2%) were males. The mean age of the participants was 29.02±11.03 years. The distribution pattern by age revealed that the most common age group was 21 to 30 years, encompassing a total of 106 patients (41.1%), with 84 females and 22 males. A total of 71 cases were registered for obstetrics and gynaecology conditions, constituting 27.5% of the total. Conclusion: Although USG is requested for many emergency conditions in the hospital, the acute abdomen remains the foremost indication for an emergency USG call.

Keywords

• emergency medical practitioner
• intestinal obstruction
• retained product of conception
• ultrasonography