This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Related article  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Surgery  • Surgery, Other  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Grace S. Rozycki, MD
Atlanta, Ga

Arch Surg. 2000;135:174.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

As surgeons become more proficient in the use of ultrasonography, studies^1-4 continue to demonstrate its value in the examination of patients, especially those who are severely ill. As with any diagnostic test, however, the indications and the time needed to perform the test are essential factors to consider when validating its usefulness. In addition, training and proficiency in ultrasonography are important issues because it is a user-dependent modality and, therefore, its accuracy affects patient care.

In this study, the authors suggest that a detailed ultrasonographic examination of the patient's abdomen may determine the cause of peritonitis and that when the examination shows normal findings, an unnecessary operation may be avoided. Four of the patients in this study had normal findings on the ultrasonographic examination but also underwent other diagnostic tests, including continued observation, to ensure that nonoperative management was appropriate.

Although the authors suggest that ultrasonography . . . [Full Text of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

RELATED ARTICLE

Accuracy of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peritonitis Compared With the Clinical Impression of the Surgeon
Shyr-Chyr Chen, Fang-Yue Lin, Yeu-Sheng Hsieh, and Wei-Jao Chen
Arch Surg. 2000;135(2):170-174.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT