Accuracy of abdominal ultrasound for the diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum in patients with acute abdominal pain: a pilot study

The Ultrasound Journal

Table 1 Clinical characteristics in patients with and without pneumoperitoneum

	Pneumoperitoneum cases = 11	No. pneumoperitoneum controls = 11	p
Female gender	5 (45 %)	4 (36 %)	0.5
Age (years)	68 ± 17.1	66.4 ± 25.7	0.87
Anamnestic features
Previous abdominal surgery	2 (18 %)	5 (45 %)	0.15
Active neoplasia	3 (27 %)	1 (9 %)	0.29
Symptoms at presentation
Pain scale (NRS)	7.4 ± 1.6	7.6 ± 1.3	0.77
Vomit	2 (18 %)	4 (36 %)	0.32
Physical findings
Signs of peritonism	6 (54 %)	5 (45 %)	0.5
Abdominal distension	9 (81 %)	8 (72 %)	0.5
Shock/hypotension (SBP <90 mmHg)	2 (18 %)	1 (9 %)	0.5

Values are reported as mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables or as absolute number and percent value (in brackets). p significant if <0.05
NRS numeric rating scale, SBP systolic blood pressure