Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in evaluation and management of acute abdominal conditions in the paediatric age group.

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study have been elaborated below: (1) to enumerate the common causes of acute abdominal emergencies by ultrasonography in paediatric patients; (2) to establish the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography in evaluation of acute abdominal conditions in children and to illustrate the associated ultrasonographic findings; (3) and, to discuss the role of ultrasonography in guiding the mode of intervention in these cases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study of ultrasonographic examination in 146 paediatric patients presenting with acute onset abdominal pain at the emergency/paediatric outpatient department section of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, Aligarh, between June 2006 and December 2007, using 3.75 MHz and 8 MHz transducers of the ADARA (Siemens) machine.

RESULTS

Common causes of acute abdominal emergencies in pediatric patients as noted on ultrasonography included nonspecific pain (28%), abdominal abscess (21%), acute appendicitis (7%) and intussusception (7%). Ultrasonography was diagnostic in 45.2% cases and supportive in 12.3% of the cases. As for as the final outcome, ultrasonography prevented surgery in almost 20% cases and laparotomy was avoided in 7% of the patients as ultrasound guided interventions in the form of abscess aspiration were carried out.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasonography evaluation of children with acute abdominal pain, helps in making significant changes in the management plan of the patients, and also reveals various clinically unsuspected diseases.