ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Kim, In Byung; Song, Keun Jeong; Lee, Hahn Shick

J Korean Soc Emerg Med > Volume 5(1); 1994 > Article

Original Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 1994;5(1): 66-71.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

In Byung Kim, Keun Jeong Song, Hahn Shick Lee

Department of Emergency Medicine, Yong Dong Severance Hospital, YUMC

Published online: July 31, 1994.

ABSTRACT

The Ultrasonography is benefit in the imaging diagnosis of disease and trauma, because it is simple, movable, rapid, non-invasive and economical tool. The Ultrasonography is especially useful in the diagnosis of some emergency cases. We trained the Ultrasonography for emergency patients by emergency physician for 1 year prior to this prospective study. We analysis the time efficiency, indication of disease, and diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in E.D. The 87 cases were received emergency ultrasonography at Emergency Center of Yong Dong Severance Hospital during 6 months from Aug. l, 1993 to Jan. 31, 1994. Among the 87 cases, 30 cases were performed ultrasonography by radiologist and comparative studies were made. There were differences of time distribution for taking ultrasonography between E.D. and adiologist. while emergency ultrasonography was performed on 45 cases(51%), none of the cases received radiollogy ultrasonography within 1 hr. and 15 cases(30%) received radiology ultrasonography after 5 hrs. of arrival. Therefore we conclude that emergency ultrasonography is time efficient. In distribution of primary problems, medical problems counted 51 cases(54%), traumatic cases were 24 cases (27 %) and obstetric and gynecology cases were 12 cases(14%). In comparison between the final diagnosis and diagnosis obtained from emergency sonography, sensitivity 95%, specificity 75% and accuracy 93% was obtained. The 30 cases (34 %) out of 87 cases received both emergency and radiology ultrasonography and obtained a result of sensitivity 89%, specificity 100 % and accuracy 90%. Diagnostic ultrasonography is very appropriate for use in emergency medicine and should be put in the hands of those who will use it to its fullest potential benefit.