Evaluation of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis by pediatric emergency physician sonography

Acute abdomen in pediatric radiology

BACKGROUND

 Imaging is a common part of the workup for acute abdomen in childhood and adolescence. Rapid diagnosis is crucial for adequate therapy, especially in young children.

METHOD

 This review is intended to provide an overview of the typical causes of acute abdomen in children and adolescents and is specifically aimed at radiologists who do not regularly work in pediatric radiology.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

 Age-specific peculiarities make a division into three age groups useful: Newborns, infants and toddlers, and schoolchildren. Possible causes of acute abdomen in children range from congenital lesions, particularly in newborns, to entities well known in adult radiology, more commonly in school-aged children. Since younger children have a higher sensitivity to radiation and often a limited ability to cooperate, sonography and conventional X-ray are the primary imaging modalities used. Decisive advantages of sonography, especially in younger children, include its widespread availability, the lack of need for sedation, and the possibility of bedside examination. Supplementary cross-sectional imaging, usually MRI, is reserved for special clinical questions. Close interdisciplinary cooperation between attending clinicians and radiologists is essential for efficient diagnostics in this patient group.

KEY POINTS

  · Age-specific features must be observed. · Sonography and radiography are the most important modalities. · Both congenital and acquired pathologies play a role. · Good interdisciplinary cooperation is essential in this patient group.

CITATION FORMAT

· Lochbühler N, Bölle P, Müller-Abt P. Acute abdomen in pediatric radiology. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; 196: 451 - 462.

Vomiting, Pyloric Mass, and Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Diagnostic Test Accuracy for Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis-A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a common cause of nonbilious vomiting in infants younger than 6 months. Its history, physical examination, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) have not been compared for their diagnostic test accuracy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to quantify and compare the diagnostic test accuracy of a history of vomiting, a pyloric mass on palpation, and POCUS.

METHODS

We performed three searches of the literature from 1977 to March 2022. We evaluated bias using the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy-2) tool. We performed a bivariate analysis.

RESULTS

From 5369 citations, we identified 14 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. We quantified three diagnostic elements: POCUS, a pyloric mass on palpation, and vomiting. We identified five studies that analyzed POCUS, which included 329 patients. POCUS had a sensitivity of 97.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 93.1-99.3%) and a specificity of 94.1% (95% CI 88.7-97.1%) for detecting pyloric stenosis. We identified six studies that analyzed the presence of a pyloric mass, which included 628 patients. The palpation of a pyloric mass had a sensitivity of 73.5% (95% CI 62.6-82.1%) and a specificity of 97.5% (95% CI 93.8-99.0%). We identified four studies that analyzed vomiting, which included 355 patients. Vomiting had a sensitivity of 91.3% (95% CI 82.1-96.0) and a specificity of 60.8% (95% CI 8.5-96.3). Both POCUS and palpation of a pyloric mass had a high positive likelihood ratio (LR+: 17 and 33, respectively). The LR+ for vomiting was 5.0.

CONCLUSIONS

Both POCUS and palpable mass had high specificity and positive LR, whereas vomiting provided the lowest diagnostic test measures.

Contemporary Use of Ultrasonography in Acute Care Pediatrics

Use of ultrasonography by clinicians at the point of care has expanded widely and rapidly. Pediatric acute care providers now leverage this valuable tool to guide procedures, diagnose pathophysiologic processes, and inform time-sensitive decisions in sick and unstable children. However, the deployment of any new technology must be packaged with training, protocols, and safeguards to optimize safety for patients, providers, and institutions. As ultrasonography is increasingly incorporated into residency, fellowship, and even medical student curricula, it is important that educators and trainees are aware of the diversity of its clinical applications. This article aims to review the current state of point-of-care ultrasonography in acute care pediatrics, with an emphasis on the literature supporting the use of this important clinical tool.

Diagnostic accuracy of palpation and ultrasonography for diagnosing infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:

Although infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is a well-known disease, there is no systematic review regarding the optimal diagnostic strategy. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain diagnostic accuracy of all methods to diagnose IHPS.

Methods:

According to the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, we searched MEDLINE and Embase to identify studies reporting sensitivity and specificity of all methods used to diagnose IHPS. Inclusion criteria were infants with suspicion of/or diagnosed with IHPS who underwent pyloromyotomy or had clinical follow-up. A random-effects model was used to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results:

After screening 5364 studies, we included 43 studies with in total 6085 infants (n = 4241 IHPS; n = 1844 controls). The diagnostic sensitivity of palpation ranged from 10.0 to 93.4% and decreased over time. Different parameters for ultrasonography were found. Most used parameters were pyloric muscle thickness (PMT) ≥ 3 mm (pooled sensitivity 97.6% and specificity 98.8%), PMT ≥ 4 mm (pooled sensitivity 94.0% and specificity 98.0%) or a combination of PMT ≥ 4 mm and/or pyloric canal length ≥16 mm (pooled sensitivity 94.0% and specificity 91.7%). The AUC showed high diagnostic accuracy (0.997, 0.966 and 0.981 respectively), but large heterogeneity exists. Due to the large differences in cut-off values no meta-analysis could be conducted for pyloric canal length and pyloric diameter.

Conclusion:

Palpation has limited sensitivity in diagnosing IHPS. We showed that ultrasonography has highest diagnostic accuracy to diagnose IHPS and we advise to use PMT ≥ 3 mm as cut-off.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis on diagnosing IHPS, which summarizes the available literature and may be used as a guideline.

Gastric Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Acutely and Critically Ill Children (POCUS-ped): A Scoping Review

Introduction

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use is increasing in pediatric clinical settings. However, gastric POCUS is rarely used, despite its potential value in optimizing the diagnosis and management in several clinical scenarios (i.e., assessing gastric emptying and gastric volume/content, gastric foreign bodies, confirming nasogastric tube placement, and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis). This review aimed to assess how gastric POCUS may be used in acute and critically ill children.

Materials and Methods

An international expert group was established, composed of pediatricians, pediatric intensivists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, and a methodologist. A scoping review was conducted with an aim to describe the use of gastric POCUS in pediatrics in acute and critical care settings. A literature search was conducted in three databases, to identify studies published between 1998 and 2022. Abstracts and relevant full texts were screened for eligibility, and data were extracted, according to the JBI methodology (Johanna Briggs Institute).

Results

A total of 70 studies were included. Most studies (n = 47; 67%) were conducted to assess gastric emptying and gastric volume/contents. The studies assessed gastric volume, the impact of different feed types (breast milk, fortifiers, and thickeners) and feed administration modes on gastric emptying, and gastric volume/content prior to sedation or anesthesia or during surgery. Other studies described the use of gastric POCUS in foreign body ingestion (n = 6), nasogastric tube placement (n = 5), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (n = 8), and gastric insufflation during mechanical ventilatory support (n = 4). POCUS was performed by neonatologists, anesthesiologists, emergency department physicians, and surgeons. Their learning curve was rapid, and the accuracy was high when compared to that of the ultrasound performed by radiologists (RADUS) or other gold standards (e.g., endoscopy, radiography, and MRI). No study conducted in critically ill children was found apart from that in neonatal intensive care in preterms.

Discussion

Gastric POCUS appears useful and reliable in a variety of pediatric clinical settings. It may help optimize induction in emergency sedation/anesthesia, diagnose foreign bodies and hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and assist in confirming nasogastric tube placement, avoiding delays in obtaining confirmatory examinations (RADUS, x-rays, etc.) and reducing radiation exposure. It may be useful in pediatric intensive care but requires further investigation.

The P2Network-Advancing Pediatric Emergency Care With Point-of-Care Ultrasound

ABSTRACT

Over the last 2 decades, the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) has grown exponentially. In 2014, a group of PEM POCUS leaders met and formed the P2Network. The P2Network provides a platform to build collaborative relationships and share expertise among members from various countries and practice settings. It works with educators and researchers within and outside of the field to advance POCUS practice in PEM. As an organization, the P2Network promotes the evidence-based application of POCUS to facilitate and improve care in the PEM setting and addresses issues related to integration of the PEM POCUS practitioner in this nascent field. The P2Network is building and augmenting its infrastructure for PEM POCUS research and education and has already made some progress in the areas, with published manuscripts and ongoing clinical research studies under its sponsorship. Future goals include developing a PEM POCUS research agenda, formalizing teaching and assessment of PEM POCUS skills, and implementing multicenter research studies on potentially high impact applications.

Feasibility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Diagnosing Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis in the Emergency Department

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for diagnosing hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted in infants aged younger than 90 days who were brought to the ED due to vomiting between January 2015 and December 2019. Of these, infants who were clinically suspected of having HPS and underwent ultrasound were included and categorized into 3 groups: POCUS only, POCUS followed by radiologist-performed ultrasound (RADUS), and RADUS only. All confirmative diagnoses of HPS were made by RADUS. The diagnostic performance of POCUS was analyzed, and the ED patient flow was compared between the POCUS-performed (POCUS only or POCUS followed by RADUS) and RADUS-only groups.

RESULTS

Overall, 171 patients with a median age of 34 days were included. Of these, 79 patients (46.2%) underwent POCUS only, and none had HPS; 50 patients (29.2%) underwent POCUS followed by RADUS; and 42 patients (24.5%) underwent RADUS only. Overall, 41 patients (24.0%) were diagnosed with HPS, and POCUS showed a sensitivity of 96.6% and specificity of 94.0%. In the total cohort, length of stay in the ED (EDLOS) was shorter in the POCUS-performed group than in the RADUS-only group (2.6 vs 3.8 hours, P = 0.015). Among non-HPS patients, time to disposition (1.8 vs 2.7 hours, P = 0.005) and EDLOS (2.0 vs 3.0 hours, P = 0.004) were shorter in the POCUS-performed group than in the RADUS-only group. Performing POCUS followed by RADUS did not significantly delay the treatment among HPS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Point-of-care ultrasound is accurate and useful for diagnosing HPS and improved the ED patient flow by reducing EDLOS and door-to-disposition time in non-HPS patients.

Current Applications of Pediatric Abdominal Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for pediatric abdominal symptoms has expanded in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. POCUS may be used to aid in the diagnosis of appendicitis, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and intussusception in the pediatric population. This article reviews the benefits of POCUS for the diagnosis of these pediatric pathologies. This article also provides instruction on how to perform these important examinations. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(10):e419-e423.].

Diagnostic Applications of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Point-of-care ultrasound has become an essential part of pediatric emergency medicine training and practice. It can have significant clinical benefits, including improving diagnostic accuracy and decreasing length of stay, and does not require radiation exposure for patients. In this review, we summarize the current diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound applications in pediatric emergency medicine, their evidence, and techniques.

Non-radiologist-performed abdominal point-of-care ultrasonography in paediatrics - a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Historically, US in the paediatric setting has mostly been the domain of radiologists. However, in the last decade, there has been an uptake of non-radiologist point-of-care US.

OBJECTIVE

To gain an overview of abdominal non-radiologist point-of-care US in paediatrics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a scoping review regarding the uses of abdominal non-radiologist point-of-care US, quality of examinations and training, patient perspective, financial costs and legal consequences following the use of non-radiologist point-of-care US. We conducted an advanced search of the following databases: Medline, Embase and Web of Science Conference Proceedings. We included published original research studies describing abdominal non-radiologist point-of-care US in children. We limited studies to English-language articles from Western countries.

RESULTS

We found a total of 5,092 publications and selected 106 publications for inclusion: 39 studies and 51 case reports or case series on the state-of-art of abdominal non-radiologist point-of-care US, 14 on training of non-radiologists, and 1 each on possible harms following non-radiologist point-of-care US and patient satisfaction. According to included studies, non-radiologist point-of-care US is increasingly used, but no standardised training guidelines exist. We found no studies regarding the financial consequences of non-radiologist point-of-care US.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review supports the further development of non-radiologist point-of-care US and underlines the need for consensus on who can do which examination after which level of training among US performers. More research is needed on training non-radiologists and on the costs-to-benefits of non-radiologist point-of-care US.

Evaluation of Ventricle Size Measurements in Infants by Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians

OBJECTIVES

The identification of hydrocephalus in infants by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians using cranial point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has not been evaluated. We aimed to conduct a pilot/proof-of-concept study to evaluate whether PEM physicians can identify hydrocephalus (anterior horn width >5 mm) in 15 infants (mean 69 ± 42 days old) from the neonatal intensive care unit using POCUS. Our exploratory aims were to determine the test characteristics of cranial POCUS performed by PEM physicians for diagnosing hydrocephalus and the interrater reliability between measurements made by the PEM physicians and the radiologist.

METHODS

Depending on the availability, 1 or 2 PEM physicians performed a cranial POCUS through the open anterior fontanel for each infant after a 30-minute didactic lecture to determine the size of the left and right ventricles by measuring the anterior horn width at the foramen of Monroe in coronal view. Within 1 week, an ultrasound (US) technologist performed a cranial US and a radiologist determined the ventricle sizes from the US images; these measurements were the criterion standard.

RESULTS

A radiologist determined 12 of the 30 ventricles as hydrocephalic. The sensitivity and specificity of the PEM physicians performed cranial POCUS was 66.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.9%-90.1%) and 94.4% (95% CI, 72.7%-99.9%), whereas the positive and negative predictive values were 88.9% (95% CI, 53.3%-98.2%) and 81.0% (95% CI, 65.5%-90.5%), respectively. The interrater reliability between the PEM physician's and radiologist's measurements was r = 0.91. The entire POCUS examinations performed by the PEM physicians took an average of 1.5 minutes. The time between the cranial POCUS and the radiology US was, on average, 4 days.

CONCLUSIONS

While the PEM physicians in our study were able to determine the absence of hydrocephalus in infants with high specificity using cranial POCUS, there was insufficient evidence to support the use of this modality for identifying hydrocephalus. Future studies with more participants are warranted to accurately determine test characteristics.

Are we performing ultrasound measurements of the wall thickness in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis studies the same way?

PURPOSE

To retrospectively review imaging planes, number of visible pyloric layers and location of measurements, in infants with suspected (HPS).

METHODS

103 pyloric ultrasound studies for suspected HPS were included. For each study, we recorded whether longitudinal or transverse views were performed, the layers visualized (a schematic was developed for two pediatric radiologists to categorize the interfaces of the anatomic layers a-e) and position of the internal measurement cursor. Categories for the anterior (superficial wall) layers were from external to internal: (a) internal aspect of the muscularis propria; (b) external aspect of the muscularis mucosa; (c) internal aspect of the muscularis mucosa; (d) internal aspect of the mucosa interfacing with a mucosal fold (e) deep aspect of the mucosal fold. Median differences between HPS groups were calculated and inter-reader agreement (kappa score) was performed between both readers.

RESULTS

In 100 studies (97 patients), longitudinal (99%) and transverse (69%) views of the pylorus were recorded. For longitudinal views, measurements included muscle thickness (95%), length (97%) and no pyloric diameter. For the transverse view, measurements included muscle thickness (16%) and the diameter (3%). Pyloric layer interfaces were visible: (a) in 64% (b) in 64% (c) in 66% (d) in 30% and (e) in 26%. The internal reference point of cursor placement for measuring the muscle wall thickness in the longitudinal view for one reader was as follows: (a) 46% (b) 27% (c) 30% (d) 1% and (e) 2% of studies. Surgically proven HPS group had a median thickness measurement 0.17 mm greater than the non-HPS studies (CI 95% 0.12-0.21, p < 0.05), and inter-reader agreement was considered as moderate (Kappa 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a variety of thickness measurements performed predominantly in the longitudinal view and a largely abandoned diameter measurement. The latter might offer a solution as it is not defined by any internal interfaces.

The use of abdominal imaging studies in children visiting emergency department was variable and unsystematic

AIM

As imaging is used for various reasons in children with acute gastrointestinal complaints, we evaluated the indications and diagnostic yield of abdominal imaging, particularly ultrasound at emergency department (ED).

METHODS

Indications and imaging reports of consecutive children who had undergone abdominal imaging in general, surgical and paediatric EDs in the Tampere University Hospital, Finland, in 2015 were collected. Symptoms, clinical findings, imaging indications and findings were categorised and further analysed.

RESULTS

Altogether 394 imaging studies, 310 ultrasounds, 72 X-rays and 12 computed tomographies (CT), for 348 children (55% boys) aged 0-16.9 years, median 7.1 years, were performed. The most common indications for ultrasound were suspected appendicitis or infection (36%) and explanation for symptoms (32%), for X-ray suspected foreign body (39%) and obstruction (39%) and for CT trauma (50%). The cause of the symptoms or a clinically significant finding was established in 23% of ultrasounds, varying from 0% to 50% depending on the indication, symptoms and age.

CONCLUSION

There was wide variation in the indications and yield of abdominal imaging. The clinical benefits, particularly those of US, were often questionable, even leading to delayed diagnosis and complications. More uniform imaging guidelines are needed in the paediatric ED.

Moving Beyond the Stethoscope: Diagnostic Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Pediatric Practice

Diagnostic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a growing field across all disciplines of pediatric practice. Machine accessibility and portability will only continue to grow, thus increasing exposure to this technology for both providers and patients. Individuals seeking training in POCUS should first identify their scope of practice to determine appropriate applications within their clinical setting, a few of which are discussed within this article. Efforts to build standardized POCUS infrastructure within specialties and institutions are ongoing with the goal of improving patient care and outcomes.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Pediatric Hospitalist's Practice

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has the potential to provide real-time valuable information that could alter diagnosis, treatment, and management practices in pediatric hospital medicine. We review the existing pediatric POCUS literature to identify potential clinical applications within the scope of pediatric hospital medicine. Diagnostic point-of-care applications most relevant to the pediatric hospitalist include lung ultrasound for pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis; cardiac ultrasound for global cardiac function and hydration status; renal or bladder ultrasound for nephrolithiasis, hydronephrosis, and bladder volumes; soft tissue ultrasound for differentiating cellulitis from abscess; and procedural-guidance applications, including line placement, lumbar puncture, and abscess incision and drainage. We discuss POCUS applications with reviews of major pathologic findings, research gaps, the integration of POCUS into practice, and barriers to implementation.

Immediate Emergency Department Diagnosis of Pyloric Stenosis with Point-of-care Ultrasound

A 15-day-old male who was born at term presented with non-bilious projectile vomiting. He was nontoxic and his abdomen was benign without masses. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) showed hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). Typical findings include target sign; pyloric muscle thickness greater than three millimeters (mm); channel length greater than 15–18 mm; and lack of gastric emptying. The patient was admitted; consultative ultrasound (US) was negative, but repeated 48 hours later for persistent vomiting. This second US was interpreted as HPS, which was confirmed surgically. Pyloromyotomy was successful. Few reports describe POCUS by general emergency physicians to diagnose HPS. Here, we emphasize the value in repeat US for patients with persistent symptoms.

Pediatric Abdominal Pain: An Emergency Medicine Perspective

Abdominal pain is a common complaint that leads to pediatric patients seeking emergency care. The emergency care provider has the arduous task of determining which child likely has a benign cause and not missing the devastating condition that needs emergent attention. This article reviews common benign causes of abdominal pain as well as some of the cannot-miss emergent causes.

Emergency ultrasonography of the gastrointestinal tract of children

Ultrasonography (US) is widely used to evaluate most body parts in pediatric patients because it is simple, noninvasive, easy to use, and applicable in a wide variety of clinical situations. US is the modality of choice for the initial evaluation of acute abdominal pain in pediatric patients because of their small body habitus and the presence of less fat tissue in the abdominal wall and peritoneal cavity. The most important factor in performing pediatric emergency US is the graded compression technique and selection of the proper transducer. The careful evaluation of bowel wall thickening combined with ancillary findings such as fluid collection, increased echogenicity of the mesenteric fat tissue, enlarged lymph nodes, hyperemic bowel changes, and abnormal bowel peristalsis can increase the diagnostic capability of US.

Point-of-care ultrasound identification of pneumatosis intestinalis in pediatric abdominal pain: a case report

We describe a case report of an infant with intussusception who presented to a pediatric emergency department with diarrhea and increased irritability. Pneumatosis intestinalis (intra-mural air) detected on point-of-care ultrasonography (but not apparent on plain abdominal radiographs) alerted the emergency physicians towards the severity of disease process.

Pediatric emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasound: summary of the evidence

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound is well supported by the medical literature. Consequently, pediatric emergency medicine providers have embraced this technology in everyday practice. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement endorsing the use of point-of-care ultrasound by pediatric emergency medicine providers.  To date, there is no standard guideline for the practice of point-of-care ultrasound for this specialty. This document serves as an initial step in the detailed "how to" and description of individual point-of-care ultrasound examinations.  Pediatric emergency medicine providers should refer to this paper as reference for published research, objectives for learners, and standardized reporting guidelines.

Real-Time Tele-Mentored Low Cost "Point-of-Care US" in the Hands of Paediatricians in the Emergency Department: Diagnostic Accuracy Compared to Expert Radiologists

BACKGROUND

The use of point-of-care ultrasonography (POC US) in paediatrics is increasing. This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of POC US in children accessing the emergency department (ED) when performed by paediatricians under the remote guidance of radiologists (TELE POC).

METHODS

Children aged 0 to 18 years accessing the ED of a third level research hospital with eight possible clinical scenarios and without emergency/severity signs at the triage underwent three subsequent US tests: by a paediatrician guided remotely by a radiologist (TELE POC); by the same radiologist (UNBLIND RAD); by an independent blinded radiologist (BLIND RAD). Tele-radiology was implemented using low cost "commercial off-the-shelf" (COTS) equipment and open-source software. Data were prospectively collected on predefined templates.

RESULTS

Fifty-two children were enrolled, for a total of 170 ultrasound findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of TELE POC were: 93.8, 99.7, 96.8, 99.4 when compared to UNBLIND RAD and 88.2, 99.7, 96.8, 98.7 when compared to BLIND RAD. The inter-observers agreement between the paediatricians and either the unblind or blind radiologist was excellent (k = 0.93). The mean duration of TELE POC was 6.3 minutes (95% CI 4.1 to 8.5). Technical difficulties occurred in two (3.8%) cases. Quality of the transmission was rated as fair, good, very good and excellent in 7.7%, 15.4%, 42.3% and 34.6% of cases respectively, while in no case was it rated as poor.

CONCLUSIONS

POC US performed by paediatricians in ED guided via tele-radiology by an expert radiologist (TELE POC) produced reliable and timely diagnoses. Findings of this study, especially for the rarer conditions under evaluation, need further confirmation. Future research should investigate the overall benefits and the cost savings of using tele-ultrasound to perform US "at children's bedsides", under remote guidance of expert radiologists.

Contemporary management of pyloric stenosis

Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a common surgical cause of vomiting in infants. Following appropriate fluid resuscitation, the mainstay of treatment is pyloromyotomy. This article reviews the aetiology and pathophysiology of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, its clinical presentation, the role of imaging, the preoperative and postoperative management, current surgical approaches and non-surgical treatment options. Contemporary postoperative feeding regimens, outcomes and complications are also discussed.

Point-of-care ultrasonography by pediatric emergency physicians. Policy statement

Point-of-care ultrasonography is increasingly being used to facilitate accurate and timely diagnoses and to guide procedures. It is important for pediatric emergency physicians caring for patients in the emergency department to receive adequate and continued point-of-care ultrasonography training for those indications used in their practice setting. Emergency departments should have credentialing and quality assurance programs. Pediatric emergency medicine fellowships should provide appropriate training to physician trainees. Hospitals should provide privileges to physicians who demonstrate competency in point-of-care ultrasonography. Ongoing research will provide the necessary measures to define the optimal training and competency assessment standards. Requirements for credentialing and hospital privileges will vary and will be specific to individual departments and hospitals. As more physicians are trained and more research is completed, there should be one national standard for credentialing and privileging in point-of-care ultrasonography for pediatric emergency physicians.

Point-of-care ultrasound in paediatric emergency medicine

Point-of-care ultrasound (POC US) is an adjunct to clinical paediatric emergency medicine practice that is rapidly evolving, improving the outcomes of procedural techniques such as vascular access, nerve blocks and fluid aspiration and showing the potential to fast-track diagnostic streaming in a range of presenting complaints and conditions, from shock and respiratory distress to skeletal trauma. This article reviews the procedural and diagnostic uses, both established and emerging, and provides an overview of the necessary components of quality assurance during this introductory phase.

Advancing the Use of Administrative Data for Emergency Department Diagnostic Imaging Research

Administrative data are critical to describing patterns of use, cost, and appropriateness of imaging in emergency care. These data encompass a range of source materials that have been collected primarily for a nonresearch use: documenting clinical care (e.g., medical records), administering care (e.g., picture archiving and communication systems), or financial transactions (e.g., insurance claims). These data have served as the foundation for large, descriptive studies that have documented the rise and expanded role of diagnostic imaging in the emergency department (ED). This article summarizes the discussions of the breakout session on the use of administrative data for emergency imaging research at the May 2015 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference, "Diagnostic Imaging in the Emergency Department: A Research Agenda to Optimize Utilization." The authors describe the areas where administrative data have been applied to research evaluating the use of diagnostic imaging in the ED, the common sources for these data, and the strengths and limitations of administrative data. Next, the future role of administrative data is examined for answering key research questions in an evolving health system increasingly focused on measuring appropriateness, ensuring quality, and improving value for health spending. This article specifically focuses on four thematic areas: data quality, appropriateness and value, special populations, and policy interventions.

Point-of-care ultrasonography by pediatric emergency medicine physicians

Emergency physicians have used point-of-care ultrasonography since the 1990 s. Pediatric emergency medicine physicians have more recently adopted this technology. Point-of-care ultrasonography is used for various scenarios, particularly the evaluation of soft tissue infections or blunt abdominal trauma and procedural guidance. To date, there are no published statements from national organizations specifically for pediatric emergency physicians describing the incorporation of point-of-care ultrasonography into their practice. This document outlines how pediatric emergency departments may establish a formal point-of-care ultrasonography program. This task includes appointing leaders with expertise in point-of-care ultrasonography, effectively training and credentialing physicians in the department, and providing ongoing quality assurance reviews.

Surgeon as educator: bedside ultrasound in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis

OBJECTIVE

Our institution has demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of surgeon-performed ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS). Moreover, we have also shown this modality to be accurate and reproducible through surgeon-to-surgeon instruction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a surgical resident with experience in diagnosing HPS can teach pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellows, with little experience in sonography, to accurately measure the pyloric channel with bedside US.

METHODS

A surgical resident with experience in diagnosing HPS with US-proctored 4 emergency medicine fellows for 5 bedside US examinations each. A PEM fellow, who was blinded to the results from the radiology department US, then performed bedside US and measured the pyloric channel in patients presenting to the emergency department with HPS. Results between the radiology department and the fellows were compared using the Student t test.

RESULTS

In total, 18 USs were performed on 17 patients. There were no false-negative or false-positive results. There was no statistical difference between the radiology department and fellow measurement when evaluating muscle width (p = 0.21, mean deviation = 0.2 mm) or channel length (p = 0.47, mean deviation = 0.6 mm).

CONCLUSION

Bedside-performed US technique for measuring the pylorus length and width in patients with HPS is reproducible and accurate when taught to PEM providers. The learning curve for this technique is short.

Advances in point-of-care ultrasound in pediatric emergency medicine

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an integral part of emergency medicine practice. Research evaluating POCUS in the care of pediatric patients has improved the understanding of its potential role in clinical care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent work has investigated the ability of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians to perform a wide array of diagnostic and procedural applications in POCUS ultrasound. Studies have demonstrated that PEM providers are able to identify an array of diseases, including intussusception, pyloric stenosis and appendicitis. Novel applications of ultrasound, such as a cardiac evaluation in the acutely ill patient or identification of skull fractures in the assessment of a patient with head injury, have shown excellent promise in recent studies. These novel applications have the potential to reshape pediatric diagnostic algorithms.

SUMMARY

Key applications in PEM have been investigated in the recent publications. Further exploration of the ability to integrate ultrasound into routine practice will require larger-scale studies and continued growth of education in the field. The use of ultrasound in clinical practice has the potential to improve safety and efficiency of care in the pediatric emergency department.

Evaluation of acute appendicitis by pediatric emergency physician sonography

STUDY OBJECTIVE

We investigate the accuracy of pediatric emergency physician sonography for acute appendicitis in children.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled children requiring surgical or radiology consultation for suspected acute appendicitis at an urban pediatric emergency department. Pediatric emergency physicians performed focused right lower-quadrant sonography after didactics and hands-on training with a structured scanning algorithm, including the graded-compression technique. We compared their sonographic interpretations with clinical and radiologic findings, as well as clinical outcomes as defined by follow-up or pathologic findings.

RESULTS

Thirteen pediatric emergency medicine sonographers performed 264 ultrasonographic studies, including 85 (32%) in children with pathology-verified appendicitis. Bedside sonography had a sensitivity of 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 75% to 95%), specificity of 93% (95% CI 85% to 100%), positive likelihood ratio of 11.7 (95% CI 6.9 to 20), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.17 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.28).

CONCLUSION

With focused ultrasonographic training, pediatric emergency physicians can diagnose acute appendicitis with substantial accuracy.