The Survey Film in Acute Abdominal Disorders
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Gratitude is expressed to Dr. Price E. Thomas, determine some of factors controlling rate of action of curare. J. Physiol. 106:20P, 1947. Department of Physiology, Kirksville College of 10. Kalow, W.: Hydrolysis of local anesthetics by human serum Osteopathy and Surgery, for his guidance in the cholinesterase. J. Pharmacol. Exper. Therap. 104:122-134, Feb. 1952. writing of this paper, and to Mrs. Kathryn Balder- 11. Beecher, H. K., and Murphy, A. J.: Acidosis during thoracic son for preparation of the diagrams. surgery. J. Thoracic Surg. 19:50-70, Jan. 1950. 12. Lehmann, H., and Silk, E.: Succinylrnonocholine. Brit. M. J. 1:767-768, April 4, 1953. 13. Frumin, J. M.: Hepatic inactivation of succinylcholine in dog. Fed. Proc. 17:368, 1958. 1. Boba, A., et al.: Effects of apnea, endotracheal suction, and 14. Barnes, J. M., and Davies, D. 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J.: Dual action of suxamethonium chloride. Brit. 1947. J. Anaesth. 28:159-168, April 1956. 5. Stechishin, 0., Voloshin, P. C., and Allard, C. A.: Neuromuscu- 19. Churchill-Davidson, H. C., and Richardson, A. T.: Decame- lar paralysis and respiratory arrest caused by intrapleural neomycin. thonium iodide (C10); some observations on its action using electro- Canad. M. A. J. 81:32-33, July 1, 1959. myography. Proc. Roy. Soc. Med. 45:179-186, April 1952. 6. Li, T. H., et al.: Early respiratory depression by curare and 20. Greene, N. M.: Fatal cardiovascular and respiratory failure curare-potassium antagonism. J. Pharmacol. Exper. Therap. 104:149- associated with tracheotomy. New England J. Med. 261:846-848, 161, Feb. 1952. Oct. 22, 1959. 7. Dripps, R. D.: Abnormal respiratory responses to various 21. Dripps, R. D., and Severinghaus, J. W.: General anesthesia "curare" drugs during surgical anesthesia; incidence, etiology and and respiration. Physiol. Rev. 35:741-777, Oct. 1955. treatment. Ann. Surg. 137:145-155, Feb. 1953. 22. Dripps, R. D.: Immediate decrease in blood pressure seen at 8. Marsh, D. F.: Distribution, metabolism, and excretion of conclusion of cyclopropane anesthesia; "cyclopropane shock." Anes- d-tubocurarine chloride and related compounds in man and other thesiology 8:15-35, Jan. 1947. animals. J. Pharmacol. Exper. Therap. 105:299-316, July 1952. 23. Downs, T. M.: Carotid sinus as etiological factor in sudden 9. Holmes, P. E. B., Jenden, D. J., and Taylor, D. B.: Attempt to anesthetic death. Ann. Surg. 99:974-984, June 1934. The survey film in acute abdominal disorders CARL L. NEUFELD, D.O.,° Merchantville, N.J. Acute intra-abdominal conditions may be baffling not only to the surgeon but to the internist as well. Unfortunately, the surgeon is too frequently inter- In perusing the literature on this subject, one is ested in one of three things: Is there free air impressed with the relative paucity of material beneath the diaphragm? Is there ( an often sought available. The major fundamental contributors to but infrequently seen finding) a stepladder pat- the interpretation of the "flat" or "scout" abdominal tern? Is there evidence of biliary or urinary calculi? film have been Laurell and Frimann-Dahl. With Clinical and physical signs are sometimes poorly the exception of an occasional article written by defined or absent, thus making it difficult to decide Wangensteen, Bigler, Sussman, and Levitin, few whether or not to operate. original investigations can be found. That the ab- In substantiating or establishing a diagnosis, con- dominal film has not received the notice it has siderable aid might be obtained from survey or deserved might be the fault of the radiologist, who "scout" films of the abdomen. It should be re- has not convinced the surgeon of its importance membered that the roentgen examination of the in diagnosing acute abdominal conditions. abdomen is not in competition with the clinical examination, but in cooperation with it. Both are This paper, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for certification of the American Osteopathic Board of Radiology, was performed with the intention of effecting the most prepared during the residency of Dr. Neufeld in the Department of accurate diagnosis possible through the combined Radiology of Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, of which Dr. Theo- dore C. Hobbs is chairman. efforts of the internist, the surgeon, and the radi- °Address, 212 Cherry Hill Apts., W. ologist. JOURNAL A.O.A., VOL. 60, JUNE 1961 827 Technical factors instances only an indefinite suspicion of anatomic variation can be determined. Ordinarily, the rela- A survey film is one obtained without employing tive size and shape, changes in density, or other contrast media and without any preparation of the significant alterations can be determined for the patient. The minimum preliminary examination liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, psoas muscles, and should include an anteroposterior recumbent pro- urinary bladder. Occasionally, similar changes can jection of the abdomen (including the diaphragm be noted in the prostate, seminal vesicles, and the and the symphysis pubis), an anteroposterior erect uterus and its adnexa. Also seen are multiple retro- film of the same area, and an erect posteroanterior peritoneal structural variations. chest film. The kidneys are checked for size, position, and Diseases of the chest are frequently manifested contour. The course of the ureter is followed for by referred pain in the abdomen. Right basal pneu- possible identification of urinary calculi. Often the monia, for instance, could present symptoms of clue to a pathologic process is obtained by study- acute gallbladder disorders or acute appendicitis. ing the bony architecture of the vertebral bodies Also, abdominal lesions can produce secondary or the pelvis. However, study and attention should changes in the thoracic cavity, such as basal atelec- be critically directed towards each of the factors tasis, as a result of diminished diaphragmatic ex- considered below. cursions. If care is taken to direct the x-ray beam in a The flank area • Understanding the roentgen pic- direction horizontal to the dome of the diaphragm, ture of the flanks is the key to diagnosis of many even small amounts of air can be detected. acute abdominal lesions. These findings are valu- The value of the erect position in x-ray diagnosis able in the demonstration of abnormal signs in of acute abdominal conditions is well established. cases of exudates and inflammation. However, the left lateral decubitus position, utiliz- Four distinct, stripe-formed zones are found in ing grid cassettes, can replace erect positioning in the flank, and denser spaces are seen between them. debilitated patients; this is of comparable accuracy The broadest and longest of these zones is a medial in demonstrating free air in the peritoneal cavity stripe corresponding to the extraperitoneal fat layer and air-fluid levels in the intestine.' Because more or properitoneal fat layer, which separates the coils of small bowel are located on the left side, parietal peritoneum from the transverse abdominal the right lateral recumbent film is better for deter- muscle. This separating stripe is significant since it mining fluid levels. However, left lateral recumbent is obliterated very early in an inflammatory process. films are better to determine the presence of pneu- The next two lateral lucent stripes are the fat lay- moperitoneum. ers between the internal and external abdominal According to the experience of Frimann-Dah1,2 muscles. the best results are obtained when relatively low The fourth fatty layer, most laterally situated, milliamperage and high kilovoltage are used; this corresponds to the subcutaneous fat. In this layer will yield better film latitude, which is of particular a fine network, composed of fibrous tissue and small importance in the flank area. vessels, is seen. When there is a pathologic condi- tion this network may be more pronounced. In Examination of the abdominal film older people the stripe is indistinctly marked be- cause the fat is only slightly developed and because In the plain film certain organs can be accurately of the relatively high water content of fat in persons delineated, and others only seen in part; in some of that age. An increased abdominal content, such as that seen in adipose patients and in infants (as a result 11111.111111111111/111111111111111111 lllll 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 of normally gas-filled intestinal coils) will con- tribute to a lateral bulging of the flanks over the In substantiating or establishing striped area. However, in nonobese adults, a similar process is present only when there is a pathologic a diagnosis, considerable aid might be condition, such as edema of the abdominal wall or free fluid.2 obtained from survey or "scout" films of the Distribution of the gas pattern • The normal film of the abdomen may show gas in the stomach, the abdomen. It should be remembered that the duodenal bulb ( pars superior ), the terminal ileum, or the colon. roentgen examination of the abdomen Gas in the small bowel is abnormal except in infants.