Randomized Study Evaluating the Role of Surgeon-Performed Ultrasound in the Management of the Acute Abdomen

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00550511

Enrollment

800

Registered

2007-10-30

Start date

2004-02-29

Completion date

2005-06-30

Last updated

2007-10-30

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Abdominal Pain

Keywords

Abdominal pain, ultrasound, surgery, emergency department, diagnostic accuracy

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether surgeon-performed ultrasound as a supplement to clinical investigation when a patient presents with abdominal pain in the emergency department can improve the management of the patient.

Detailed description

Surgeon-performed ultrasound bedside in the emergency department when a patient presents with abdominal pain is quite common in Continental Europe and USA. It is considered to be implemented at emergency departments all over Sweden. This is the first randomized study performed to evaluate the method. In our study we compare diagnostic accuracy and further management of patients admitted to the emergency department for abdominal pain, with or without examination with surgeon-performed ultrasound bedside.

Interventions

RADIATIONSurgeon-performed ultrasound

After clinical investigation including standardized laboratory tests the patient in the intervention arm is examined with abdominal ultrasound performed by the study surgeon.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Admitted to emergency ward for abdominal pain * 18 years or older

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy * Condition that has to be taken care of immediately * Inability to communicate with the investigator * Previously diagnosed abdominal condition * Severe drug or alcohol addiction * Dementia

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Proportion of correct diagnosis	6 weeks

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Time consumption in emergency department Time to decision about surgical intervention Amount of complementary examinations Amount of hospital admissions Patient satisfaction in the emergency ward and at follow up Consumption of health care	2 years

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 2, 2026