Evaluation of the vomiting infant
L. C. Foley, T. L. Slovis, J. B. Campbell, J. D. Strain, L. A. Harvey and D. W. Luckey
Division of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Denver, Colo.
This 12-month prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the cost, risk,
and benefit of ultrasound followed by upper gastrointestinal series for the
evaluation of the infant who vomits. Results suggest minimal morbidity from
the upper gastrointestinal series, only a 33% reduction in the number of
upper gastrointestinal series performed, and a 95% increase in cost if this
imaging sequence is used. We conclude that the use of ultrasound for the
initial evaluation of vomiting in infants substantially increases the cost
with no meaningful decrease in morbidity and mortality.
