scholarly journals Heterotopic Pregnancy Diagnosed with Point-of-care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department: A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 178-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Holley ◽  
Sean Stickles

Introduction: Heterotopic pregnancies are rare. However, they are occurring with increasing frequency. Unfortunately, diagnosis is frequently delayed, with patients presenting in extremis. Case Report: We present a case of a heterotopic pregnancy diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a woman presenting with lower abdominal pain, who had a documented normal first trimester ultrasound the day prior to presentation. Discussion: Given the increasing rates of heterotopic pregnancies, we can no longer be reassured by the presence of an intra-uterine pregnancy (IUP) in a patient with concerning signs and symptoms of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. A thorough POCUS evaluation of the uterus and adnexa is essential for the diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy in the emergency department. Conclusion: This case highlights the value POCUS brings to the emergency department evaluation of patients in early pregnancy.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-529
Author(s):  
Barry Knapp ◽  
Kean Feyzeau ◽  
Austin Smith ◽  
Donald Byars ◽  
Craig Goodmurphy ◽  
...  

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education during medical school develops physicians who are properly prepared for the next generation of medicine. The authors present the case of a first-year medical student who self-diagnosed appendicitis using POCUS. Case Report: A 25-year-old, first-year medical student presented to the emergency department with lower abdominal pain. What seemed like a straightforward appendicitis presentation came with a twist; the student brought self-performed ultrasound imaging of his appendix. Conclusion: The student’s ultrasound skill set reflects favorably on the rapid evolution of ultrasound teaching in medical education.


POCUS Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-14
Author(s):  
Hadiel Kaiyasah, MD, MRCS (Glasgow), ABHS-GS ◽  
Maryam Al Ali, MBBS

Soft tissue ultrasound (ST-USS) has been shown to be of utmost importance in assessing patients with soft tissue infections in the emergency department or critical care unit. It aids in guiding the management of soft tissue infection based on the sonographic findings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 636-637
Author(s):  
Mark Quilon ◽  
Alec Glucksman ◽  
Gregory Emmanuel ◽  
Josh Greenstein ◽  
Barry Hahn

Case Presentation: A 24-year-old pregnant female presented to the emergency department with lower abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. A point-of-care ultrasound demonstrated a calcified yolk sac. Discussion: When identified, calcification of the yolk sac in the first trimester is a sign of fetal demise. It is important for an emergency physician to be aware of the various signs and findings on point-of-care ultrasound and be familiar with the management of these pathologies.


Author(s):  
Robert Farrow ◽  
Graham Becherer-Bailey ◽  
Daniel Mantuani ◽  
Arun Nagdev

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several case series from Italy and China have highlighted the lung ultrasound findings of this disease process and may demonstrate its clinical utility during the current pandemic. Case Report: We present a case of a COVID-19 patient who presented to the emergency department twice within a 24-hour period with rapidly progressing illness. A multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) evaluation was used on the return visit and assisted clinical decision-making. Discussion: A multi-organ POCUS exam allows for quick assessment of acute dyspnea in the emergency department. As the lung involvement of COVID-19 is primarily a peripheral process it is readily identifiable via lung ultrasound. We believe that when applied efficiently and safely a POCUS exam can reduce clinical uncertainty and potentially limit the use of other imaging modalities when treating patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: This case highlights the utility of an early multiorgan point-of-care assessment for patients presenting with moderate respiratory distress during the severe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-288
Author(s):  
Peter Patitsas ◽  
Richard Davis ◽  
Robert Strony

A 53-year-old male presented with pain in the right elbow that was sudden in onset and progressively worsening over approximately eight hours. The pain was exacerbated with any movement of the elbow. Of note, he had been recently admitted for robotic prostatectomy and had a prolonged hospital stay requiring a course of antibiotics. This case report details the emergency department evaluation of septic arthritis of the elbow with a focus on best practices for ultrasound- guided elbow arthrocentesis.


POCUS Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-17
Author(s):  
Maryam Al Ali, MBBS ◽  
Abeeha Gardezi, MBBsch ◽  
Michael Jalal, MBBS ◽  
Shihab Al Sheikh, MB.ChB. CABS. MRCS.

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) plays an important role in the Emergency Department or in any Critical Care Unit. In our case, we present how a POCUS mnemonic guided us in diagnosing two fatal conditions in a single case.


CJEM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S65
Author(s):  
R. Amiro ◽  
R. Clouston ◽  
J. French ◽  
P. Atkinson

Introduction: Bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy is a common presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) with half going on to miscarry. Currently there is no local consensus on key quality markers of care for such cases. Point of Care Ultrasound (PoCUS) is increasingly utilized in the ED to detect life threating pathology such as an ectopic pregnancy or fetal viability. PoCUS leads to improved patient satisfaction, quicker diagnosis and treatment. The purpose for this study was to examine the rates of formal ultrasound and PoCUS when compared to reported and recommended rates, and also to understand the use of other diagnostic tests. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of pregnant females presenting to the ED with first trimester bleeding over one year (June 2016 – June2017) was completed. A sample size of 108 patients was required to detect a moderate departure from baseline reported rates (67.8 – 77.6%). The primary outcome was the PoCUS rate in the ED. The main secondary outcome was the formal ultrasound rate. The literature recommends PoCUS in all early pregnancy bleeding in the ED, with a target of 100% of patients receiving PoCUS. Additional data recorded included the live birth rate, pelvic and speculum examination rate and lab tests. There is no clearly defined ideal practice for the additional data so these rates will be recorded without comparison. Results: Records of 168 patients were screened for inclusion. 65 cases were excluded because they were not pregnant or had confirmed miscarriage or other, leaving a total of 103 patients included in the analysis. The PoCUS rate was 51.5% (95% CI 42%-61%), lower than previously reported PoCUS rates of 73% (67.8 – 77.6%). The formal ultrasound rate was 67% (57%-75%). Both approaches were significantly lower than the recommended rate of 100% (95.7 – 100%). Rates for other key markers of care will also be presented. Conclusion: Fewer PoCUS exams were performed at our centre compared with reported and recommended rates for ultrasound. Further results will explore our current practice in the management of first trimester pregnancy complications. We plan to use this information to suggest improvements in the management of this patient population.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Iqhbal ◽  
Julina M. Noor ◽  
Nur A. Karim ◽  
Izzat Ismail ◽  
Halim Sanib ◽  
...  

The use of ultrasonography in acute and critical care medicine is becoming increasingly common. However, use of an airway ultrasound as an adjunct to determine the type of intervention needed and assess complications is not common practice. We report a 56-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department of the Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia, in 2015 with hoarseness, stridor and impending respiratory failure. A point-of-care ultrasound performed to assess the neck and vocal cords indicated a heterogeneous echogenic mass in the larynx, thus ruling out a cricothyroidotomy. The patient was therefore referred for an emergency tracheostomy. This case highlights the importance of point-of-care airway ultrasonography in the assessment of patients with stridor. This imaging technique not only helps to detect the cause of the stridor, but also to determine the feasibility of a cricothyroidotomy in emergency cases.Keywords: Emergency Medicine; Stridor; Ultrasonography; Airway Management; Tracheostomy; Case Report; Malaysia.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document