| Study | Critical Finding |
|---|
| Angiography, Various Sites (Abdomen) | Abscess; aneurysm |
| Angiography, Various Sites (Adrenal glands) | Adrenal disease |
| Angiography, Various Sites (Carotid artery) | Stroke |
| Angiography, Various Sites (Lungs) | Pulmonary embolism |
| Cardiac Catheterization | Aneurysm; aortic dissection |
| Chest X-Ray | Foreign body; malposition of tube, line, or postoperative device (pacemaker); pneumonia; pneumoperitoneum; pneumothorax; spine fracture |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Abdomen) | Abscess; acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleed; aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection; appendicitis; bladder cancer; bowel obstruction; bowel perforation; mesenteric torsion; prostate cancer; tumor with significant mass effect; visceral injury (significant solid organ laceration) |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Angiography) | Brain or spinal cord ischemia; emboli; hemorrhage; leaking aortic aneurysm; occlusion; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Brain and Head) | Abscess; acute hemorrhage; aneurysm; infarction; infection; obstruction; stroke; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Chest) | Aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection; pneumothorax; pulmonary embolism |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Pelvis) | Ectopic pregnancy; prostate cancer; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Spine) | Cord compression; fracture; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Computed Tomography, Various Sites (Spleen) | Abscess; hemorrhage; laceration |
| Ductography | Ductal cancer in situ (DSIS); invasive breast cancer |
| Echocardiography | Aneurysm; infection; obstruction; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Echocardiography, Transesophageal | Aneurysm; aortic dissection |
| Electrocardiogram | Adult: Acute changes in ST elevation may indicate acute myocardial infarction or pericarditis; asystole; heart block, second and third degree with bradycardia less than 60 beats/min; pulseless electrical activity; pulseless ventricular tachycardia; PVCs greater than three in a row, pauses greater than 3 sec, or identified blocks; unstable tachycardia; ventricular fibrillation |
| Electrocardiogram | Pediatric: Asystole; bradycardia less than 60 beats/min; pulseless electrical activity; pulseless ventricular tachycardia; supraventricular tachycardia; ventricular fibrillation |
| Electroencephalography | Abscess; brain death; head injury; hemorrhage; intracranial hemorrhage |
| Esophagogastroduodenoscopy | Presence and location of acute GI bleed |
| Fundoscopy | Detached retina |
| Gastrointestinal Blood Loss Scan | Acute GI bleed |
| Intraocular Pressure | Increased IOP in the presence of sudden pain, sudden change in vision; a partially dilated, nonreactive pupil and firm globe implies acute angle-closure glaucoma, which is an ocular emergency requiring immediate attention to avoid permanent vision loss |
| Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder Study | Bowel obstruction; ischemic bowel; visceral injury |
| Laparoscopy, Abdominal | Appendicitis |
| Laparoscopy, Gynecologic | Ectopic pregnancy; foreign body; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Liver and Spleen Scan | Visceral injury |
| Lung Scans (Perfusion and Ventilation Studies) | Pulmonary embolism |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Various Sites (Abdomen) | Acute GI bleed; aortic aneurysm; infection; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Various Sites (Blood vessels (MRA)) | Aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection; occlusion; tumor with significant mass effect; vertebral artery dissection |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Various Sites (Brain) | Abscess; cerebral aneurysm; cerebral infarct; hydrocephalus; skull fracture or contusion; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Various Sites (Chest) | Aortic aneurysm; aortic dissection; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Various Sites (Venography) | Cerebral embolus; occlusion; pulmonary embolus; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Plethysmography | Deep vein thrombosis |
| Positron Emission Tomography, Various Sites (Brain) | Aneurysm; cerebrovascular accident; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Ultrasound, Biophysical Profile, Obstetric | Abruptio placentae; adnexal torsion; biophysical profile score between 0 and 2 is abnormal and indicates the need for assessment and decisions regarding early or immediate delivery; ectopic pregnancy; fetal death; placenta previa |
| Ultrasound Studies, Various Sites (Abdomen) | Aneurysm 5 cm or greater |
| Ultrasound Studies, Various Sites (Pelvis; Gynecologic, Nonobstetric) | Abscess; adnexal torsion; appendicitis; infection; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Ultrasound Studies, Various Sites (Scrotum) | Testicular torsion |
| Ultrasound, Venous Doppler, Extremity Studies | Deep vein thrombosis; pulmonary embolism (as a sequelae of DVT) |
| Upper GI and Small Bowel Series | Foreign body; perforated bowel; tumor with significant mass effect |
| Venography, Lower Extremity Studies | Pulmonary embolism |