Re-evaluating the role of Doppler ultrasonography in patients presenting with scrotal pain

Aim To describe our experience of all patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 5-year time period with acute scrotum and to investigate the role of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) for investigating this group of patients. Method A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Irish journal of medical science 2016-08, Vol.185 (3), p.705-709
Main Authors: Mohammed, W. M., Davis, N. F., O’Connor, K. M., Kiely, E. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Pain - diagnostic imaging
Acute Pain - etiology
Acute Pain - surgery
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Emergencies
Emergency Service, Hospital
Family Medicine
General Practice
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Internal Medicine
Male
Medical Records
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Article
Patient Discharge
Retrospective Studies
Scrotum - diagnostic imaging
Spermatic Cord Torsion - complications
Spermatic Cord Torsion - surgery
Tertiary Care Centers
Trauma Centers
Ultrasonography, Doppler
Young Adult
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Summary:Aim To describe our experience of all patients presenting to a tertiary referral centre over a 5-year time period with acute scrotum and to investigate the role of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) for investigating this group of patients. Method A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of a level 1 trauma centre with acute scrotum from 2009 to 2014 inclusive. Inclusion criteria included all patients who underwent an investigatory DUS and/or emergency scrotal exploration. Recorded patient demographics included age, presenting symptoms, duration of symptoms and relevant examination findings. Result Three-hundred and twelve patients were included with a mean age of 15 years (range 1 day–40 years). In total, 106 patients underwent immediate scrotal exploration, and testicular torsion (TT) was found in 30 % ( n  = 32/106). Two-hundred and twenty-two patients were initially investigated with DUS and 16 (7.2 %) proceeded to scrotal exploration. Of this sub-group, 2/16 presented with a history 24 h, and DUS findings were consistent with TT. No patients with a normal DUS represented to the ED after discharge. Conclusion DUS may prevent unnecessary scrotal exploration in patients presenting with acute scrotal pain and is useful for diagnosing TT in patients presenting with symptoms >24 h.
ISSN:0021-1265
1863-4362
DOI:10.1007/s11845-015-1349-7