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Acute abdominal pain with distension, abnormal bowel sounds, and previous abdominal surgery are indicative of a small-bowel obstruction. A computer-based diagnostic score increases the sensitivity and usefulness index of the diagnosis of acute small-bowel obstruction in comparison with clinical decision alone.

Acute abdominal pain at the right lower quadrant, with tenderness, rigidity, and increased body temperature (> or = 37.1 degrees C), is indicative of acute appendicitis in patients more than 50 years old. The diagnostic scoring system did perform well, increasing the sensitivity, specificity, efficiency, and usefulness index of the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in the aged.