ISSN:
1438-1435
Keywords:
Ultrasound
;
Pelvic
;
Endovaginal
;
Transabdominal
;
Cost-effective
;
Emergency
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Ultrasound evaluation of the female pelvis is a valuable tool to diagnose pelvic pathology accurately and rapidly in the emergency room patient. Institutions differ concerning which imaging approach—transabdominal or endovaginal sonography—should be performed first, and when it is appropriate to continue to the other modality. The aim of this randomized and prospective study was to determine the most cost-effective imaging approach to pelvic sonography, without sacrificing diagnostic yield. The results of 120 patient encounters utilizing both imaging methods were as follows. Our study showed that 74% of examinations first performed transabdominally required additional endovaginal evaluation, whereas only 9% of initial examinations by endovaginal sonography required transabdominal examination. Thus, we demonstrated that the total time and expenditure of imaging decreased while we maintained high diagnostic accuracy. We recommend that all female emergency patients being evaluated for pelvic pathology, except those with a palpable pelvic mass or with a bladder that is already full, or those in the second or third trimester or pregnancy, undergo imaging initially by endovaginal sonography and that transabdominal evaluation be used as a complementary examination.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01507780
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