ABSTRACT
The study comprised of 164 consecutive patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were assessed clinically and ultrasonographic examinations of 76 patients were performed. Of these, 54 [33%] patients would normally have had an immediate ultrasonographic scan requested; routine [within 24 h. of admission] ultrasonographic scan would have been requested in a further 22 [13%] patients. In 88 [54%] patients who were diagnosed as acute appendicitis, and ultrasonographic examination would not have been requested and appendicectomy was done for them. Ultrasonography altered the diagnosis in three patients. In the 1st patient, the diagnosis is altered from probable acute appendicitis to acute cholecystitis. In the 2nd patient, the diagnosis is altered from simple fractured rib [in car accident] to ruptured spleen with the fractured rib. In the 3rd patient, the diagnosis was changed from fracture femur and shock to multiple liver tears and retroperitoneal haematoma with the fracture femur. The study shows that immediate ultrasonographic examination of acute abdomen is helpful especially for patients with a history of trauma, for management and decision for urgent laparotomy and to exclude serious surgical pathology which required immediate intervention