Diagnostic Accuracy of Bedside Ultrasound in Suspected Acute Diverticulitis

Colonic diverticulitis is a common clinical condition; about 20% of patients with colonic diverticulosis experience abdominal symptoms and, eventually, complications such as episodes of diverticulitis or bleeding. The distinction between patients with uncomplicated or complicated diverticulitis affects the clinical management: medical therapy for the first, interventional therapy for the latter. CT imaging with intravenous contrast has become the gold standard in the diagnosis and staging of patients with suspected acute diverticulitis but, unfortunately, CT involves radiation exposure, is expensive and has contraindications. UltraSound (US) is a real-time dynamic examination with wide availability and easy accessibility and may be useful in diagnosing and managing critically ill patients who cannot be moved to CT. In a recent meta-analysis, US exam performed by Radiologists showed a pooled sensitivity of 90% (vs 95% for CT, p = 0.86) and a specificity of 90% (vs 96% for CT, p = 0.04). US is increasingly used at bedside to rapidly assess patients presenting to the Emergency Department. No previous studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal US performed by physician at bedside as an extension of physical examination. This study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of bedside abdominal US.

Inclusion criteria

• informed consent obtained
• patients with abdominal pain presenting to the Emergency Department with a suspicon of diverticular disease, in whom the tutor physician orders an imaging study (abdominal CT or abdominal US performed by the Radiologist)

Exclusion criteria

• no ultrasonographer physician who can perform bedside abdominal US is present
• the patient does not undergo imaging study
• clinical conditions of the patient are particularly severe, preventing an adequate enrollment