A Case Report of a LVAD Driveline Infection Diagnosed by Point-of-care Ultrasound.

Introduction: As the prevalence of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) presenting to the emergency department (ED) increases, clinicians must be aware of LVAD-associated infections.

Case Report: A well-appearing, 41-year-old male with history of heart failure status post prior-LVAD placement presented to the ED for swelling of his chest. What appeared initially as a superficial infection was further assessed with point-of-care ultrasound and found to represent a chest wall abscess involving the driveline, ultimately resulting in sternal osteomyelitis and bacteremia.

Hip effusions or iliopsoas hematomas on ultrasound in identifying hip fractures in the emergency department.

Objective: We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios of hip effusion and/or iliopsoas hematoma on point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by ultrasound fellows and fellowship trained emergency providers to identify hip fractures in emergency department (ED) patients with a high suspicion of hip fracture.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of a convenience sample of patients with high suspicion of hip fracture at two academic EDs between 2018 and 2021. Patients with negative x-rays who did not receive further imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) were excluded.

Using Ultrasound to Determine Optimal Location for Needle Decompression of Tension Pneumothorax: A Pilot Study.

Background: Chest injury can result in life-threatening complications like tension pneumothorax, in which rapid deterioration can occur without decompression. Traditionally, the second intercostal space (ICS) along the mid-clavicular line is taught as the site for decompression. However, this has been questioned due to high rates of treatment failure.

Ultrasound in the Emergency Department Identifies Ectopic Pregnancy Post Hysterectomy: A Case Report.

Introduction: Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is one of the leading causes of maternal death. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been shown to be highly sensitive for excluding ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy after a hysterectomy is a rare but life-threatening occurrence.

A Prospective Evaluation of Point-of-Care Ultrasonographic Diagnosis of Diverticulitis in the Emergency Department.

Study Objective: We evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care ultrasonography, performed by ultrasonographic fellowship-trained emergency physicians and physician assistants, compared with computed tomography (CT) scan in diagnosing acute diverticulitis in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of a convenience sample of patients with suspected diverticulitis who were treated at an academic ED between 2017 and 2020. Sonographers were blinded to clinical data, laboratory results, and CT scan findings.

Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Nerve Block to Facilitate the Closed Reduction of a Dislocated Hip Prosthesis.

Prosthetic hip dislocation is a common but unfortunate complication in patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty. Successful closed reduction in the emergency department leads to a reduced length of stay and rate of hospitalization.1,2 The use of regional anesthesia by femoral nerve block represents a novel approach for controlling pain in patients with hip pathologies.

The "Black-and-White Cookie" Sign - A Case Series of a Novel Ultrasonographic Sign in Gastric Outlet Obstruction.

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a rare condition occurring as a consequence of numerous processes that prevent gastric emptying. Presenting symptoms of GOO are non-specific and include nausea, vomiting, epigastric discomfort and decreased appetite. The diagnosis of GOO is often challenging.

A prospective feasibility trial of a novel intravascular catheter system with retractable coiled tip guidewire placed in difficult intravascular access (DIVA) patients in the Emergency Department.

The primary study objective was to evaluate insertion success rates. Secondary objectives included patient satisfaction, procedure time, complication rates, completion of therapy and dwell time of the novel AccuCath 2.25″ Blood Control (BC) Catheter System (FDA approved) placed in difficult-access patients.

An unusual case of right upper quadrant pain in a pregnant woman.

Uterine fibroids occur in up to 30% of women of reproductive age and can cause complications during pregnancy that can harm mother and fetus, such as prematurity and increased risk of miscarriage. This article describes a pregnant woman whose abdominal pain was diagnosed as degenerating uterine fibroids.

Diagnosis of Traumatic Temporal Artery Pseudoaneurysm by Ultrasound in the Emergency Department.

Background: Emergency bedside point-of-care ultrasound provides an extremely fast and cost-effective diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of vascular abnormalities, such as pseudoaneurysms. The cost-benefit and timing advantages of ultrasound are increasingly apparent when compared to more conventional diagnostic tests, such as computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography scans.

Case Report: A 33-year-old man with no medical history presented to our emergency department complaining of a constant, throbbing, left-sided headache over his temple with an associated mass.

Point of Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Empyema.

Background: Emergency ultrasonography is an efficient and cost effective tool for patients who are in respiratory distress. Chest radiographs can yield limited information for these patients. Computed tomography scans have long been the criterion standard for advanced imaging in patients with respiratory complaints, but point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can be performed at bedside, does not expose the patient to radiation, and at times may provide more information than a computed tomography scan.