A comparison of the diagnosis of gastroparesis in 4 h pediatric gastric emptying studies versus 2 h studies.

Background: In adults, there is a consensus for standards to diagnose gastroparesis utilizing a gastric emptying study as the key diagnostic modality but there is no consensus for a standard in pediatrics. Additionally, some cost savings might be achieved if symptoms could be utilized to predict patients with gastroparesis. The aims of the current study were to confirm the sensitivity of a 4 h study in the pediatric population and to assess whether the severity of symptoms were predictive of delayed gastric emptying.

Standardized reporting of appendicitis-related findings improves reliability of ultrasound in diagnosing appendicitis in children.

Purpose: Our objective was to increase ultrasound reliability for diagnosing appendicitis in an academic children's hospital emergency department (ED) through a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative.

Methods: A retrospective review of ultrasound use in patients diagnosed with appendicitis in our ED from 1/1/2011 to 6/30/2014 established a baseline cohort. From 8/1/2014 to 7/31/2015 a diagnostic algorithm that prioritized ultrasound over CT was used in our ED, and a standardized template was implemented for the reporting of appendicitis-related ultrasound findings by our radiologists.

Computed Tomography Utilization for the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis in Children Decreases With a Diagnostic Algorithm.

Objective: The primary objective of this project was to decrease computed tomography (CT) utilization for the diagnosis of appendicitis in an academic children's hospital emergency department (ED) through a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative.

Background: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal diagnosis leading to the hospitalization of children in the United States. However, the diagnosis of appendicitis in children can be difficult and many centers rely heavily upon CT scans.