Table 4 Final diagnoses made by the senior surgeon for study patients with abdominal pain in the emergency department in the ultrasound (US) and no ultrasound (control) groups
US, n (%)(n = 392)No US, n (%)(n = 391)Total(n = 783)
Non-specific abdominal pain148 (37.9)148 (38.1)296 (38.0)
Cholelithiasis (symptomatic, with or without cholecystitis)34 (8.7)27 (7.0)61 (7.8)
Appendicitis34 (8.7)29 (7.5)63 (8.1)
Diverticulitis17 (4.3)35 (9.0)52 (6.7)
Ureteric calculus (symptomatic, with or without hydronephrosis)22 (5.6)23 (5.9)45 (5.8)
Urinary tract infection (cystitis or pyelonephritis)18 (4.6)14 (3.6)32 (4.1)
Dyspepsia/reflux/oesophagitis16 (4.1)12 (3.1)28 (3.6)
Gastroenteritis/virosis14 (3.6)10 (2.6)24 (3.1)
Choledocholithiasis (with or without cholangitis or pancreatitis)9 (2.3)13 (3.4)22 (2.8)
Tumour (not previously known)10 (2.6)11 (2.8)21 (2.7)
Ovarian cyst (symptomatic, with
or without rupture/bleeding)7 (1.8)11 (2.8)18 (2.3)
Pancreatitis (without calculus)11 (2.8)5 (1.3)16 (2.1)
Muscle-related pain9 (2.3)5 (1.3)14 (1.8)
Ileus/subileus3 (0.8)10 (2.6)13 (1.7)
Constipation/faecaloma6 (1.5)4 (1.0)10 (1.3)
Hydronephrosis (without ureteric calculus)4 (1.0)3 (0.8)7 (0.9)
Abscess4 (1.0)3 (0.8)7 (0.9)
Salpingitis6 (1.5)1 (0.3)7 (0.9)
Hernia5 (1.3)1 (0.3)6 (0.8)
Colitis/terminal ileitis0 (0.0)5 (1.3)5 (0.6)
Duodenal ulcer without perforation2 (0.5)0 (0.0)2 (0.3)
Perforated duodenal ulcer1 (0.3)1 (0.3)2 (0.3)
Abdominal aortic aneurysm0 (0.0)1 (0.3)1 (0.1)
Other diagnosis11 (2.9)16 (4.1)27 (3.4)