Abdominal Radiographs for Constipation May Be Misleading

Obtaining abdominal radiographs to evaluate constipation in children is associated with increased risk of return emergency room visits for a serious related condition, most often appendicitis.

Although abdominal imaging is not recommended for the evaluation of children with constipation, with or without abdominal pain, clinical practice is quite variable. In a retrospective cohort study of children who presented to 23 emergency departments (EDs) for constipation, impaction, or encopresis from 2004 to 2015, researchers assessed whether obtaining an abdominal radiograph was associated with revisit to the ED with a clinically important alternate related diagnosis.

Of roughly 230,000 children, 66% underwent abdominal radiography at the index visit and 0.28% returned to an ED and received a clinically important alternate related diagnosis within 3 days. Appendicitis accounted for 34% of these revisits. Children who underwent abdominal …

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Abdominal Radiographs for Constipation May Be Misleading

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Reviewing Author