Right Lower Quadrant Abdominal Pain: Do Not Forget About Ovarian Torsion on the Computed Tomography Scan.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is one of the most common chief complaints of patients presenting to emergency departments, and emergency physicians (EPs) often evaluate patients with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Ovarian torsion is a rare cause of abdominal pain, but early diagnosis is essential for salvage of the affected ovary. The diagnostic study of choice for ovarian torsion is a pelvic ultrasound with color Doppler, but it is important for EPs and radiologists to be aware of findings of ovarian torsion that might appear on computed tomography (CT). CASE REPORT: We present a case of a young female with right lower quadrant abdominal pain with CT evidence of ovarian torsion that was not recognized; the patient was discharged and then called back when the study was over-read as concerning for ovarian torsion. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: The presence of radiographic findings associated with ovarian torsion on a CT scan should encourage an EP to order a pelvic ultrasound with color Doppler (if available) and obtain an obstetrics/gynecology consult.

Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Cardiac Tamponade Identified by the Flow Velocity Paradoxus.

The presentation of cardiac tamponade is a spectrum from occult to extreme. The clinical history, physical exam, electrocardiogram, and radiographic findings of tamponade have poor sensitivities and even worse specificities. We use a clinical scenario to demonstrate how point-of-care cardiac ultrasound can diagnose impending cardiac tamponade in a clinically stable patient. The ultrasound finding we recommend is the flow velocity paradoxus, in which respiratory variation causes significant changes in transvalvular inflow velocities, which are exaggerated when tamponade is present. The management of a pericardial effusion depends on its physiologic effect, and point-of-care ultrasound directly measures that effect and expedites patient care.

Sonographic Findings in Necrotizing Fasciitis: Two Ends of the Spectrum.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but serious disease, and early diagnosis is essential to reducing its substantial morbidity and mortality. The 2 cases presented show that the key clinical and radiographic features of necrotizing fasciitis exist along a continuum of severity at initial presentation; thus, this diagnosis should not be prematurely ruled out in cases that do not show the dramatic features familiar to most clinicians. Although computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are considered the most effective imaging modalities, the cases described here illustrate how sonography should be recommended as an initial imaging test to make a rapid diagnosis and initiate therapy.

The ultrasound-guided "peripheral IJ": internal jugular vein catheterization using a standard intravenous catheter.

BACKGROUND: Obtaining vascular access is difficult in certain patients. When routine peripheral venous catheterization is not possible, several alternatives may be considered, each with its own strengths and limitations. DISCUSSION: We describe a novel technique for establishing vascular access in Emergency Department (ED) patients: the placement of a standard catheter-over-needle device into the internal jugular vein using real-time ultrasound guidance. We present a series of patients for whom this procedure was performed after other attempts at vascular access were unsuccessful. In all cases, the procedure was performed quickly and without complications. CONCLUSION: Although further study of this technique is required, we believe this procedure may be a valuable option for ED patients requiring rapid vascular access.

Is the ordering of imaging for suspected venous thromboembolism consistent with D-dimer result?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether the ordering of imaging studies in patients with suspected venous thromboembolism was consistent with the results of D-dimer testing. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive cases in which a D-dimer assay was performed at an urban academic emergency department during a 13-month period. Measurements included D-dimer result and results of imaging for venous thromboembolism. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients in each D-dimer category (positive or negative result with a cutoff value of 500 ng fibrinogen equivalent units/dL) who underwent subsequent imaging within 48 hours. We also report the results of the imaging studies obtained. RESULTS: A total of 553 D-dimer tests were ordered, with 266 (48.1%) negative and 287 (51.9%) positive results. Of patients with a negative D-dimer result, 37 (14%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 10% to 19%) underwent at least 1 imaging study. Of patients with a positive D-dimer result, 137 (48%; 95% CI 42% to 54%) did not undergo imaging. CONCLUSION: Evaluation for venous thromboembolism occasionally proceeded despite a negative D-dimer result, whereas frequently no further evaluation occurred despite a positive result. These findings suggest that actual clinical practice differs from what is recommended by published algorithms that guide evaluation of patients with suspected venous thromboembolism.

Ultrasonographic confirmation of intraosseous needle placement in an adult unembalmed cadaver model.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Intraosseous access is widely used in pediatric and adult resuscitations when vascular access cannot be promptly established. Confirmation of intraosseous needle placement has traditionally relied on the ability to aspirate blood or marrow or infuse crystalloid easily. This study's aim is to determine the value of bedside ultrasonography as a means of confirming intraosseous needle placement by visualizing the flow of crystalloid within the intraosseous space. METHODS: A controlled trial was conducted in which intraosseous access was obtained in the bilateral distal tibia of 4 freshly frozen, unembalmed cadavers. In 8 legs, an intraosseous needle (15-gauge Jamshidi) was inserted 1 fingerbreadth superior to the medial malleolus and flushed with 10 mL of crystalloid. Measurements included whether crystalloid was observed to flow by gravity into the drip reservoir of the intravenous tubing and whether color flow was visualized within the intraosseous space of the tibia with a 5- to 10-MHz linear transducer in color power Doppler mode, positioned just cephalad to the intraosseous needle. Intraosseous needles were then intentionally placed into the subcutaneous space just posterior to the distal tibia, and these measurements were repeated. Two blinded observers reviewed ultrasonographic video recordings and rated the presence or absence of color flow within the intraosseous space. RESULTS: Intraosseous color flow on ultrasonography correctly identified all placements, but flow into the drip reservoir was incorrect for one of the intraosseous lines (P=1.0 versus ultrasonography) and 6 of the subcutaneous lines (P=0.31 versus ultrasonography). There was perfect interobserver agreement (kappa=1) during video review. CONCLUSION: In freshly frozen cadavers, ultrasonographic visualization of flow within the intraosseous space may be a reliable method of confirming intraosseous placement. The observation of flow into the drip reservoir appears to be an unreliable indicator of intraosseous placement in fresh frozen cadavers.