Table 1.
Characteristics of cases included in the present analysis (N=96)
| Characteristic | N | % |
|---|---|---|
| Out of hours |
50 |
52% |
| Age of patient (mean ± standard deviation) |
5.8 ± 3.7 years |
|
| (range) |
3 weeks – 15 years |
|
| Female gender |
51 |
53% |
|
Clinical triage criteria (Barton Schmitt) |
|
|
|
Call emergency services now |
|
|
| Signs of shock (e.g. very weak, limp, not moving, gray skin) |
0 |
0% |
| Sounds like life-threatening emergency to the triager |
1 |
1% |
|
Go to emergency department now |
|
|
| Vomiting blood (R/O peptic ulcer, esophagitis) |
0 |
0% |
| Is pregnant or could be pregnant (female) (R/O spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy) |
0 |
0% |
| Could be poisoning with a plant, medicine, or chemical |
0 |
0% |
| Lying down and unable to walk (R/O appendicitis or other acute abdomen) |
1 |
1% |
| Walks bent over or holding the abdomen (R/O appendicitis or other acute abdomen) |
7 |
7% |
| Pain in the scrotum or testicle (male) (R/O testicular torsion) |
0 |
0% |
| Severe (excruciating) pain (R/O serious cause) |
10 |
10% |
| Blood in the bowel movements (R/O peptic ulcer, intussusception) |
0 |
0% |
| Sounds like intussusception to the triager (attacks of severe abdominal pain/crying suddenly switching to 2 to 10 minute periods of quiet) (age usually < 3 years) |
1 |
1% |
| Child sounds very sick or weak to the triager (R/O serious cause) |
0 |
0% |
|
Go to office now |
|
|
| Pain low on the right side (R/O appendicitis) |
6 |
6% |
| Pain (or crying) that is constant for > 2 hours (R/O appendicitis, PID, other serious cause) |
21 |
22% |
| Vomiting bile (bright yellow or green) (R/0 intestinal obstruction) |
1 |
1% |
| Recent injury to the abdomen (R/O ruptured spleen, traumatic pancreatitis) |
0 |
0% |
| Tenderness mainly present low on right side when caller presses on the abdomen |
5 |
5% |
| Age < 2 years (R/O intussusception, especially with intermittent pain) |
7 |
7% |
| Fever > 40.6°C (R/O serious bacterial infection) |
1 |
1% |
|
See today in office |
|
|
| Mild pain that comes and goes (cramps) lasts > 24 h |
20 |
21% |
| Parent wants child seen |
1 |
1% |
|
See within 2 weeks in office |
|
|
| Abdominal pains are a chronic problem (present > 4 weeks) (R/O stress-related, school avoidance, normal sideache) |
4 |
4% |
|
Home care |
|
|
| Mild abdominal pain present for < 24 h | 10 | 10% |