The use of ultrasonography to assess patients with right lower quadrant pain in the emergency department

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is always a clinical challenge to emergency physicians. Clinical examination or blood tests are notoriously unreliable in making the diagnosis, especially in the early phase of the disease. Computed tomogram can facilitate the diagnosis, however it is usually not easily accessible to emergency physicians. Bedside ultrasonography is now frequently used by emergency physicians in various situations for the assessment of patients. This study aimed at exploring the potential use of bedside ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients presenting with right lower quadrant abdominal pain.