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Study Objective

We sought to determine the diagnostic test characteristics of bedside emergency physician-performed ultrasonography (BEDUS) for cholelithiasis in symptomatic emergency department patients.

Methods

We conducted a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, bibliographies of previous systematic reviews and abstracts from major emergency medicine conference proceedings. We included studies that prospectively assessed the diagnostic accuracy of BEDUS for cholelithiasis, as compared to a criterion reference standard of radiology-performed ultrasonography (RADUS), computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Two authors independently performed relevance screening of titles and abstracts, extracted data and performed the quality analysis. Consensus was reached by conference and disagreements were adjudicated by a third reviewer. BEDUS performance was …