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Medical myth: Bimanual pelvic examination is a reliable decision aid in the investigation of acute abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Todd Brown  and
Mel E. Herbert
Todd Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View–UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, Calif.
Mel E. Herbert*
Affiliation:
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles; Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Healthcare Network, Los Angeles
*
Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County–USC Healthcare Network, 1200 N State St., Los Angeles CA 90033; fax 818 347-5706 [email protected]

Abstract

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Reliance on the accuracy of the pelvic examination is upheld in many medical textbooks, but review of the literature does not support the accuracy or reproducibility of this examination. That this “test” is useful for ruling out serious disease will be exposed for the myth that it is.

Keywords

cervixexamination, interrater reliabilitypelvicuterus
Type
Medical Mythology • Mythes Médicaux
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , March 2003 , pp. 120 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2003

References

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