Impact of Unenhanced Computed Tomography (CT) in Elderly Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department With Acute Abdominal Pain

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Abdominal Pain

• Registration Number: NCT02355483
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Montpellier

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether non-contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) impacts management (diagnosis, need for surgery and treatment) in elderly patients admitted to the emergency department with abdominal pain.

Detailed Description

A systematic unenhanced abdominal CT is performed in elderly patients admitted to the emergency patients with acute abdominal symptoms. Accuracy of unenhanced CT is assessed by comparing diagnosis and therapeutic management recorded before and after unenhanced CT versus gold standard diagnosis and management. Gold standard diagnosis and management are established at 3 month follow up, based on patient's medical records and a systematic telephone interview.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-05
• Primary Completion: 2014-05
• Study Completion: 2014-08
• Status Verified: 2015-01
• Study First Submitted: 2015-01-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-01-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-01-30
• Study First Posted: 2015-02-04
• Last Update Posted: 2015-02-04

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 423

Inclusion Criteria

• Elderly patients admitted to the emergency department (aged 75 year old and older)
• acute abdominal pain
• informed consent

Exclusion criteria:

• traumatic pain
• symptom duration of more than a week
• unability for the patient to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Diagnostic accuracy	3 months	Emergency Department (ED) diagnosis made prospectively by the attending ED physician both before and after unenhanced abdominal CT is compared to the reference diagnosis established at 3 month follow-up. Both ED diagnosis and reference diagnosis are recorded using a standardized diagnosis list.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Therapeutic management accuracy	3 months	Therapeutic management made by the attending ED physician both before and after unenhanced abdominal CT is compared to reference management established at 3 month follow-up. Therapeutic management is assessed by patient orientation following ED admission, need for hospitalization and surgical or medical treatment.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Medical Imaging department; 🇫🇷 Montpellier, France