Evaluation of community-based CT abdomen for acute abdominal pain during COVID-19.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of community-based imaging to reduce use of inpatient surgical resources and enforce social distancing at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: A prospective evaluation of community-based CT for patients presenting to Christchurch general practitioners with acute abdominal pain from April to November 2020. Eligible patients were discussed with the on-call general surgical team, and then referred for CT abdomen rather than hospital assessment.