Patient and institutional characteristics associated with initial computerized tomography in children presenting to the emergency department with kidney stones.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Professional associations recommend ultrasound as the initial imaging study in children with suspected nephrolithiasis but computerized tomography remains frequently used. We identified patient and institutional characteristics associated with computerized tomography as the first imaging study in children with nephrolithiasis diagnosed in the emergency department.

Materials and methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of children 2 to 18 years old with nephrolithiasis who were referred to a freestanding pediatric hospital from 2003 to 2012. We identified the imaging modality first used to evaluate the child. Medical directors at the emergency department where children were first evaluated were sent a questionnaire to ascertain emergency department characteristics

SUBMITTER: Ziemba JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5070648 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature