Impact of Unenhanced Computed Tomography (CT) in Elderly Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With Acute Abdominal Pain
Impact of Unenhanced Computed Tomography (CT) in Elderly Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With Acute Abdominal Pain
The purpose of this study is to determine whether non-contrast abdominal computed tomography
 (CT) impacts management (diagnosis, need for surgery and treatment) in elderly patients
 admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain.
A systematic unenhanced abdominal CT is performed in elderly patients admitted to the
 emergency patients with acute abdominal symptoms. Accuracy of unenhanced CT is assessed by
 comparing diagnosis and therapeutic management recorded before and after unenhanced CT versus
 gold standard diagnosis and management. Gold standard diagnosis and management are
 established at 3 month follow up, based on patient's medical records and a systematic
 telephone interview.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Elderly patients admitted to the emergency department (aged 75 year old and older)

 -  acute abdominal pain

 -  informed consent

 Exclusion criteria:

 -  traumatic pain

 -  symptom duration of more than a week

 -  unability for the patient to give informed consent