Obligatory medical device diagnostics.
- Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasonography of abdominal organs)-as a standard diagnostic test for abdominal pain (abdominal pain) [including free fluid, cholecystolithiasis (gallstones)/cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), appendicitis (appendicitis), nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)/hydronephrosis (abnormal enlargement of the renal pelvis), organ rupture/laceration (laceration)]
- Vaginal sonography (ultrasound examination of the internal genital organs using an ultrasound probe inserted into the vagina) or abdominal sonography – if gynecological causes are suspected.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activity of the heart muscle) – to rule out myocardial infarction (heart attack).
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Radiography of the abdomen (x-ray abdomen; abdominal overview) – if hollow organ perforation (free air?) or ileus (intestinal obstruction) is suspected; history of ostipation, foreign bodies
- Abdominal voiding radiograph in the standing position: Evidence of hollow organ perforation due to free air under the diaphragm (diaphragm).
- Abdominal voiding in supine position: suitable for detection of ileus [cavity perforation: free air; mechanical ileus: “mirror formation”].
- Detection of approximately 90% of renal or ureteral stones.
Note: High radiation exposure (radiation dose up to 30 times that of a chest x-ray) combined with limited diagnostic value. In a study of 874 patients, abnormalities were found in only 19% of abdominal plain radiographs.
- X-ray of the pelvis – if urolithiasis (urinary stones) is suspected.
- X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax/chest), in two planes – if pneumonia (pneumonia) is suspected.
- X-rays of the spine, ribs – if bony cause is suspected.
- Pulmonary function examination – if pulmonary disease is suspected in obstructive or restrictive lung disease.
- Gastroscopy (gastroscopy) – for suspected diseases of the esophagus, stomach.
- Endosonography (endoscopic ultrasound (EUS); ultrasound examination performed from the inside, i.e. the ultrasound probe is brought into direct contact with the internal surface (for example, the mucosa of the stomach/intestine) by means of an endoscope (optical instrument)). – When suspected diseases of the esophagus, stomach.
- Colonoscopy (colonoscopy) – in case of suspected bleeding / tumors in the area of the colon (large intestine).
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; imaging of the bile ducts) – if cholelithiasis (gallstones) is suspected.
- Echocardiography (echo; heart ultrasound) – if pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) is suspected.
- Urography or retrograde pyelography – if urinary stones are suspected.
- Angiography – imaging procedure for the visualization of arteries and veins using contrast medium.
- Fructose H2 breath test – for suspected fructose intolerance (fructose intolerance).
- Lactose H2 breath test – if lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance) is suspected.
- Computed tomography of the thorax/chest (thoracic CT) – for suspected pulmonary embolism, mediastinitis.
- Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen (abdominal CT) – on suspicion of tumors, inflammation (appendicitis / inflammation of the appendix, diverticulitis / disease of the colon, in which inflammation is formed in outpouchings of the mucosa), etc. in the abdomen.
- Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen (abdominal CT) or CT angiography – showing the blood vessels.
- Biphasic contrast CT with multiplane reconstruction (MPR) in three planes [first-line diagnostics] – for suspected acute occlusive mesenteric ischemia (intestinal infarction).
- (Perform an arterial and venous phase; the latter is necessary to diagnose mesenteric vein thrombosis).
- Catheter angiography (digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with i.a. infusion of vasodilators) – if non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia is suspected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen (abdominal MRI) – esp. in patients in whom radiation exposure should be avoided (children, pregnant women): eg.B. in unclear ultrasound findings in V. a. Appendicitis (appendicitis); Choledocholithiasis (presence of stones in the bile ducts); Ovarian torsion (ovarian stem rotation) in pregnant women.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; computer-assisted cross-sectional imaging method (using magnetic fields, i.e., without X-rays); particularly well suited for imaging soft tissue injuries) of the spine (spinal MRI) – if discopathies (disc lesions) or nucleus pulposus prolapse (herniated disc) are suspected.
