Introduction: The use of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has increased rapidly in the emergency department (ED) over the last 10 years. This study seeks to determine whether the use of POCUS to identify intrauterine pregnancy in the ED shortens the length of stay of patients presenting with first trimester pregnancy-related complaints at The Scarborough Hospital (TSH). Methods: A prospective chart review of women seen at TSH ED for first trimester pregnancy-related complaints was conducted from March 1, 2014 to December 30, 2014. ED physicians were asked to record the names of patients assessed using POCUS in the ED along with their findings during the study period (experimental group). Health Records data was used to find all patients seen in the emergency department during the study period with the chief triage complaint of “Pregnancy Issues < 20 weeks” (control group). Results: A total of 378 patients were identified in the control group and 61 patients were recorded in the experimental group. The outliers were removed from both groups. The POCUS identified an intra-uterine pregnancy (POS IUP) in 47.5% and no definite intrauterine pregnancy (NDIUP) in 52.5%.In the control group, 82.0% proceeded to obtain a formal ultrasound (FUS) after the POCUS. Patients found to have a POS IUP on the POCUS spent 141.48±100.95 minutes in hospital, while patients found to have NDIUP spent 197.10±132.48 minutes in hospital (p=0.07). The POS IUP group spent statistically significantly less time in hospital when compared to the control group (p=0.001). In the POCUS group, patients seen between 1700 and 0800 (i.e. when FUS is not available) spent significantly less time (p=0.02) in hospital (113.13±118.07 minutes, n=24) when compared to patients seen between 0800 and 1700 (208.28±106.35 minutes, n=36). Conclusion: For first-trimester pregnancy-related complaints, POCUS has been shown to be effective in reducing the time that patients spend in hospital at TSH. This difference was especially apparent when POCUS was used at times when FUS was not available. Despite the apparent reluctance of many ED physicians to discharge patients without a FUS, even after identifying a POS IUP on the POCUS, it was evident that this technology was saving time for both physicians and patients.
Point-of-care ultrasound may reduce emergency department length of stay in children with nonspecific manifestations of intussusception