Emergency Department CT Scanning for Appendicitis
Emergency Department CT Scanning for Appendicitis
The purpose of this study is to compare IV contrast only vs. IV and oral contrast Computed
 Tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in adult patients in our emergency
 department. A secondary purpose will be to design a specific CT for appendicitis protocol at
 our institution at the conclusion of this study.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  18 years and older who present to the York Hospital Emergency Department with signs
 and symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis, but in whom the diagnosis remains
 unclear as determined by an attending emergency physician or consulting surgeon and in
 which a CT scan is needed to further assist in the diagnosis

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  pregnant patients

 -  patients with known IV dye or oral contrast allergy

 -  patients in whom acute appendicitis is not the primary diagnosis

 -  patients with renal insufficiency that may have significant adverse effect from IV dye