Acil serviste amilaz testlerinin kullanılması

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish how frequent the amylase test was ordered and to determine its effectiveness in patients that apply to the emergency department. Materials and Methods: Among the 32,922 patients who had amylase tests ordered, the data from the files of 4,318 patients with high amylase levels (>100 IU/L) were evaluated. The remaining 1,543 patients were included in the study. The demographic data, laboratory results, definitive diagnoses and medication data of the patients were evaluated. Results: Amylase tests were ordered in 15.1% of the patients that applied to the emergency department, and high amylase levels were detected in 1.98%. The incidence of acute pancreatitis diagnosed in the emergency department was identified as 60 in 100.000. When the serum amylase cutoff value was taken as three times greater than the normal upper limit, it was identified that the sensitivity and specificity of amylase in diagnosing acute pancreatitis was 85.4% and 98.0% when distinguishing patients with diseases known to increase amylase. Sensitivity and specificity of amylase in diagnosing acute pancreatitis was 85.4% and 95.3% when distinguishing patients with no diseases known to increase amylase or no medication use. Conclusion: Besides acute pancreatitis, increased amylase levels are also observed in other gastrointestinal, gynecological, cardiovascular, neurological diseases and renal dysfunction. Ordering amylase tests based on the patients' clinic will reduce ordering unnecessary tests in emergency departments.