Ultrasonography in Emergency Department; a Diagnostic Tool for Better Examination and Decision-Making

The development of a systematic ultrasound protocol facilitates the visualization of foreign bodies within the canine distal limb

Ultrasonography is an excellent investigative tool that can assist with the diagnosis of soft tissue conditions. In human medicine, ultrasonography is a fundamental diagnostic tool for the investigation of suspected vegetal foreign bodies (VFB), with protocol-based ultrasonography providing increased accuracy compared to lesion-focused examinations. Protocol-based ultrasonography is an emerging tool within the veterinary field, however, compared to human medicine is not routinely employed. The objective of this study was to develop a systematic ultrasound protocol to examine the distal limb for the visualization of vegetal foreign bodies (SUEDVEG). A 12 MHz linear and an 18 MHz high-frequency small-footprint linear array transducer was used on cadaver forelimbs (n = 6) and hindlimbs (n = 6) with images obtained from three common foreign body locations within the distal limb; 1; the interdigital webbing, 2; the palmar/plantar aspect of the phalanges and metacarpus and 3; the dorsal region of the phalanges and metacarpus. From these images, a 13-step systematic musculoskeletal protocol was developed and utilized on eight clinical cases or 10 limbs that had signs typical of distal limb VFB to preliminarily validate the proposed method. Vegetal foreign bodies were successfully identified and retrieved in seven (n = 8) clinical cases with method steps 9 and 11 (orthogonal views) identifying the majority of VFBs. The described ultrasound method appears highly useful for visualizing soft tissue locations of the canine distal limb known for tracking foreign bodies. Further studies are required to validate the described systematic examination method as the preferred clinical protocol over currently used lesion-focused exploration techniques.

Accuracy of airway ultrasound parameters to predict difficult airway using the LEMON criteria as a reference: A cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study

OBJECTIVES

Ultrasound (US) airway indexes were frequently compared with other scoring systems such as Mallampati score and Cormack - Lehane classification system, but to the best of our knowledge never with LEMON. Here, in this study, we evaluated the accuracy of some recommended airway US parameters in terms of screening difficult airway using the LEMON criteria as a reference.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study in which people with at least 18 years old coming to the emergency departments for any reason who had consent for participation, were enrolled with the simple random sampling method. Hyo-mental distance (HMD), skin to epiglottis distance (EP), and peri-epiglottic space to epiglottis to vocal cord ratio (PEP/E. VC) were the US indexes that were calculated in all participants. Using a preprepared checklist, measured US parameters were recorded. For each participant, the LEMON score variables were also assessed and recorded, and the cutoff point for considering as a difficult airway case, based on LEMON score, was 2. Demographic characteristics of the participants were also registered.

RESULTS

A total of 299 cases with a mean age of 41.1 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 39.3-42.9), were participated. Based on LEMON score ≥2, 20 participants (6.7%) were categorized in difficult airway group. Comparison of the PEP/E. VC (P = 0.007) and EP distance (P = 0.049) of the participants based on LEMON score showed a statistically significant difference; but comparison of the means of HMD in the two groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.144). The median of EP of the participants was 7.70 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.70-9.40). The best cutoff point of EP distance for evaluating a difficult airway was 12.27 mm and more with the sensitivity of 35% and the specificity of 86.96% (accuracy = 0.614; 95% CI: 0.492-0.736). The median of PEP/E. VC was 1.01(IQR: 0.79-1.23). The best cutoff point of PEP/E. VC for evaluating a difficult airway was 0.88 and less with the sensitivity of 70% and the specificity of 67.38% (accuracy = 0.701; 95% CI: 0.583-0.818).

CONCLUSION

As per our results, PEP/E. VC and EP distance measured with sonography can be used in distinguishing the difficult airway, using the LEMON criteria as the reference. However, further studies are needed to use PEP/E. VC and EP distance as a part of reliable indexes.

Imaging Features of Main Posthepatectomy Complications: A Radiologist’s Challenge

In the recent years, the number of liver resections has seen an impressive growth. Usually, hepatic resections remain the treatment of various liver diseases, such as malignant tumors, benign tumors, hydatid disease, and abscesses. Despite technical advancements and tremendous experience in the field of liver resection of specialized centers, there are moderately high rates of postoperative morbidity and mortality, especially in high-risk and older patient populations. Although ultrasonography is usually the first-line imaging examination for postoperative complications, Computed Tomography (CT) is the imaging tool of choice in emergency settings due to its capability to assess the whole body in a few seconds and detect all possible complications. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is the imaging modality of choice for delineating early postoperative bile duct injuries and ischemic cholangitis that may arise in the late postoperative phase. Moreover, both MDCT and MRCP can precisely detect tumor recurrence. Consequently, radiologists should have knowledge of these surgical procedures for better comprehension of postoperative changes and recognition of the radiological features of various postoperative complications.

The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies

Background: A key issue in abdominal US is the assessment of fluid, which is usually anechoic, thus appearing “black”. Our approach focuses on searching for fluid in non-traumatic patients, providing a new, simplified method for point-of-care US (POCUS). Objective: Fluid assessment is based on a three-step analysis that we can thus summarize. 1. Look for black where it should not be. This means searching for effusions or collections. 2. Check if black is too much. This means evaluating anatomical landmarks where fluid should normally be present but may be abnormally abundant. 3. Look for black that is not clearly black. This means evaluating fluid aspects, whether wholly anechoic or not (suggesting heterogeneous or corpusculated fluid). Discussion: Using this simple method focused on US fluid presence and appearance should help clinicians to make a timely diagnosis. Although our simplified, systematic algorithm of POCUS may identify abnormalities; this usually entails a second-level imaging. An accurate knowledge of the physio–pathological and anatomical ultrasound bases remains essential in applying this algorithm. Conclusion: The black pattern approach in non -traumatic emergencies may be applied to a broad spectrum of abnormalities. It may represent a valuable aid for emergency physicians, especially if inexperienced, involved in a variety of non-traumatic scenarios. It may also be a simple and effective teaching aid for US beginners.

Ultrasonographic Assessment of Metoclopramide Administration Effectiveness in Accelerating Gastric Emptying Before Urgent Surgery in Patients with Insufficient NPO Time

Background

Aspiration is one of the important complications of general anesthesia, although infrequent as well as accompanying high morbidity and mortality. The volume of gastric content is considered as a risk factor in this regard. Therefore, it is normally mostly recommend to consider proper fasting time before induction of general anesthesia.

Objectives

This study was conducted to assess the effect of metoclopramide on reducing gastric contents in patients with incomplete fasting before induction of general anesthesia.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on patients with urgent surgical indications with incomplete NPO time. Every other patient received metoclopramide or placebo. Patients in the intervention group received 10 mg (2 ml) of intravenous metoclopramide, and patients in the control group received 2 ml of distilled water as a placebo. Patients in both groups underwent ultrasonography before starting surgery by an expert radiologist to calculate gastric antral grade (GAG) and cross-sectional antral area (CSA). These measurements were then taken for the second time 30 minutes after intervention, before starting the surgery. The values were compared statistically.

Results

The data of 60 patients were analyzed, of which 30 were in each group. The mean age, body mass index, type of the last consumed food (solid or fluid), NPO time in the two groups were not significantly different (P value > 0.05). The number of patients in the metoclopramide group with higher GAG (P value = 0.001) and the mean CSA (P value = 0.004) before the intervention was more than the control group. The GAG and mean CSA after intervention were not significantly different between the two groups; but the mean difference of decrease in CSA in the metoclopramide group was more than the control group (4.3 vs. 0.99; P value = 0.001), and changes of GAG after intervention to lower levels in the metoclopramide group was more than the control group (P value < 0.05).

Conclusions

In the current study in which ultrasonographic indexes, including GAG and CSA, were assessed as a suboptimal gastric emptying test method, it was found that metoclopramide could accelerate gastric emptying compared to placebo in patients with incomplete fasting before induction of general anesthesia.

The Role of Ultrasonography in Patients Referring to the Emergency Department with Acute Abdominal Pain

CONTEXT

Acute abdominal pain is a common clinical problem in emergency and non-emergency cases accounting for 5 to 10% of all referrals to the emergency department. Studies have indicated that these widely differentiated diagnoses are common to these complaints. Considering the high prevalence of this complaint in the patients and the wide range of its differential diagnosis, this review study was designed and evaluated aiming at investigating the causes of acute abdominal pain with a focus on assessing the position of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in the emergency department.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

This article was conducted as a narrative review of selected articles from 2005 through 2019. By comparing them, a comprehensive review of ultrasound role was conducted in patients with acute abdominal pain referring to the emergency department.

RESULTS

In this review study, we attempted to use the articles of the clinical approach, the required laboratory tests, the disadvantages and advantages of each imaging technique, the differential diagnosis for acute abdominal pain according to the location of the pain, and the position of ultrasound as a diagnostic aid tool. Eventually, the proposed protrusion will be considered in dealing with a patient with acute abdominal pain.

CONCLUSION

Regarding the wide range of causes providing multiple differential diagnosis, as well as the limited time of the health team in the emergency department for diagnostic and therapeutic measures, particularly in time-sensitive clinical conditions, ultrasound offered by emergency medicine specialists as a diagnostic aid is considered to improve the overall diagnosis and treatment of patients, thereby reducing complications.