Routinely Use of computed tomography (CT) scanning in patients with abdominal pain at emergency Department at King Hussein medical center. (KHMC)

Objective: To evaluate use of abdominal computed tomography in patients with abdominal pain and accuracy of diagnosis, in patients who attend the Emergency Department at KHMC.
Method: We conducted a retrospective descriptive case series of consecutive patients who received an abdominal CT scan for abdominal pain. The setting was an Emergency Department at King Hussein Medical Center, from January to September. 2011. All patients who presented to Emergency Department at King Hussein Medical Center with Abdominal pain and who received a CT scan in the ED were included. All CT scans were reviewed by a radiology specialist and all patients examined by an Emergency physicians.
RESULTS: The number of patients that attended the emergency Department of King Hussein Medical Center during period of study with abdominal pain was (2060).
 930 (45, 1%) of those Patients underwent Abdominal CT scan for abdominal pain. Then the patients were categorized into groups according to abdominal CT scan findings.
 Group A:  570 (61, 2%) patients with Abnormal Abdominal CT Scan.
Group B:   360 (38, 7%) patients with Normal Abdominal CT Scan.
 The patients with Abnormal CT scan (Group A) were classified into two subgroups:
             Subgroup I:  (330) (57, 8%) patients had urinary tract stones.
             Subgroup I I:  (240) (42, 1%) Patients with variable conditions.
Conclusions: The study showed that the Use of abdominal computed tomography for Abdominal pain in emergency Department may reduce mortality and Hospitals admissions, but the use of abdominal computed tomography as a routine diagnostic tool in patients with abdominal pain is unrecompensed, unless there is an indication. The Clinical assessment remains the most important first step in evaluating patients with an Abdominal Pain to decide on when to use CT scans in patients with abdominal pain.