PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - J E Smith AU - E J Hall TI - The use of plain abdominal <em>x</em> rays in the emergency department AID - 10.1136/emj.2008.059113 DP - 2009 Mar 01 TA - Emergency Medicine Journal PG - 160--163 VI - 26 IP - 3 4099 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/26/3/160.short 4100 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/26/3/160.full SO - Emerg Med J2009 Mar 01; 26 AB - Abdominal x rays expose patients to significant doses of radiation and have limited use in emergency medicine. This review explores the evidence supporting the use of abdominal x rays in the emergency department, with particular reference to recent guidelines published by the Royal College of Radiologists. The authors' recommendations for the use of abdominal x rays in the emergency department are given.