Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T11:24:30.639Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Need for bedside emergency department ultrasonography: case report of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Eric Laviolette*
Affiliation:
Hawkesbury General Hospital, Hawkesbury, Ont
*
1111 Ghislain, Hawkesbury ON K6A 3G5; e.laviolette@sympatico.ca

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Ultrasonography is a useful tool for the immediate evaluation of patients with suspected ruptured ectopic pregnancy, abdominal aortic aneurysm, traumatic intra-abdominal hemorrhage or cardiac tamponade. The 1999 Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians position statement states that bedside emergency department ultrasonography should be available 24 hours per day. This case study illustrates how emergency physicians properly trained in emergency bedside ultrasonography can use this tool effectively to dramatically impact patient care.

Type
Small Urban and Rural Issues Médecine Rurale Et Des Petits Centres Urbains
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2004

References

1.Ma, OJ, Mateer, JR.Emergency ultrasound. New York: McGraw–Hill; 2003. p. 2.Google Scholar
2.Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Standards Committee. CAEP Position Statement on Ultrasonography in the Emergency Department. Can J Emerg Med 1999;1(1):67. Available: www.caep.ca/002.policies/002–01.guidelines/ultrasonography.htm (accessed 2004 Jan 16).Google Scholar
3.Bajwa, GS, Stiell, I, Hebert, G, Lee, J.The availability of “urgent” ultrasound in Canadian emergency departments. A survey of emergency department directors [abstract]. Can J Emerg Med 2000;2(3):172. Available: www.caep.ca/004.cjem-jcmu/–.cjem/vol-2.2000/v23–172.htmGoogle Scholar
4.Demianczuk, NN, Van den Hof, MC.SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines No. 135, October 2003. The use of first trimester ultrasound. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2003;25(10):8649. Available: www.sogc.org/SOGCnet/sogc_docs/common/guide/pdfs/ps135.pdf (accessed 2004 Jan 16).Google Scholar
5.Gagnon, L.Doctors take ER ultrasounds into their own hands: but only when no radiologists are on-call after hours. Med Post 2001;37(37):79. Available: www.medicalpost.com/mpcontent/article.jsp?content=/content/EXTRACT/RAWART/3737/79A.html (accessed 2004 Jan 16).Google Scholar
6.Turner, LA, Cyr, M, Kinch, RAH, Liston, R, Kramer, MS, Fair, M, et al, for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study Group of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System. Under-reporting of maternal mortality in Canada: a question of definition. Chronic Dis Can 2003;23(1):2230. Available: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/cdic-mcc/23–1/d_e.html (accessed 2004 Jan 16).Google Scholar