CME 15/5/14 - Imaging in Acute Abdominal Pain

Imaging in acute abdominal pain from SCGH ED CME

Here is a presentation from the Prasant (radiology fellow) on imaging choices for acute abdominal pain. Remember the ability of the radiology department to assist in defining your patients pathology, relies on several factors:

adequate assessment of the patient
formulating an appropriate differential diagnosis based on that assessment
choosing the appropriate investigation/s to examine that differential (radiology are happy to discuss this, if unsure)
giving the necessary clinical information to the radiologist to assist in choosing the proper imaging protocol and interpretation of the imaging
appropriate preparation of the patient for that investigation (analgesia, full bladder, fasting, IV hydration, sedation…)

Given that imaging is a limited resource and often not a completely benign investigation (esp. high radiation dose CT and contrast imaging), appropriate individual risk benefit assessment should be done prior to the ordering of any investigations. Furthermore, you should not be ordering investigations that you do not think are clinically indicated, i.e. on the phone advice of a doctor may or may not have seen the patient.