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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2016, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (3): 178-182.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2016.03.003

• Original Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Point-of-care ultrasound versus radiology department pelvic ultrasound on emergency department length of stay

Sean P. Wilson1(), Kiah Connolly1, Shadi Lahham1, Mohammad Subeh1, Chanel Fischetti1, Alan Chiem2, Ariel Aspen1, Craig Anderson1, John C. Fox1   

  1. 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA
    2 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
  • Received:2016-01-18 Accepted:2016-06-09 Online:2016-09-15 Published:2016-09-15
  • Contact: Sean P. Wilson E-mail:wilsonseanpatrick@gmail.com

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare the time to overall length of stay (LOS) for patients who underwent point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) versus radiology department ultrasound (RDUS).
METHODS: This was a prospective study on a convenience sample of patients who required pelvic ultrasound imaging as part of their emergency department (ED) assessment.
RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 194 patients who were on average 32 years-old. Ninety-eight (51%) patients were pregnant (<20 weeks). Time to completion of RDUS was 66 minutes longer than POCUS (95%CI 60-73, P<0.01). Patients randomized to the RDUS arm experienced a 120 minute longer ED length of stay (LOS) (95%CI 66-173, P<0.01)
CONCLUSION: In patients who require pelvic ultrasound as part of their diagnostic evaluation, POCUS resulted in a significant decrease in time to ultrasound and ED LOS.

Key words: Point-of-care ultrasound, Pelvic ultrasound, Length of stay, Intrauterine pregnancy