The causes of prolonged ED stays for female patients with acute abdominal pain

INTRODUCTION: Female emergency department (ED) patients with abdominal pain require consultation and investigation for accurate diagnosis and thus prolonging their stay.
METHODS: This study employed a retrospective design and focused on female patients who sought medical attention at an emergency department (ED) between April and September 2015. The study included patients who were referred to general surgery (GS) and/or obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) clinics for consultation. Other variables were the length of stay (LOS), the duration of consultations, the recommendations provided in the consultation notes, and the laboratory and imaging results.
RESULTS: The data of 1,146 patients were analyzed over a period of 6 months. Upon analysis of their hospitalization and discharge status, it was concluded that there was no statistically significant disparity in terms of length of stay (LOS) in the emergency department (p=0.611). Patients who underwent CT scans, had negative β-hcg results, or sought general surgeon consultation had longer stays in the emergency department.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The sequential administration of examinations and consultations prolonged female abdominal pain patients' ED stays. Thus, a standardized protocol for female abdominal pain patients is widely believed to be necessary.