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

doi:10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2016.03.003

Abstract

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

Sean P. Wilson, Kiah Connolly, Shadi Lahham, Mohammad Subeh, Chanel Fischetti, Alan Chiem, Ariel Aspen, Craig Anderson, John C. Fox. Point-of-care ultrasound versus radiology department pelvic ultrasound on emergency department length of stay[J]. World Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2016, 7(3): 178-182.

Figures/Tables 4

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Figure 1.

References 25

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Variables	POCUS (%)	RDUS (%)	P value
Allocation arm	31	69	<0.05
Admission to hospital	8	11	0.54
OB/GYN consult	33	33	0.95
14-day return visit	18	5	<0.05

Variables	POCUS (%)	RDUS (%)	P value
Allocation arm	41	57	<0.05
Admission to hospital	5	14	0.14
OB/GYN consultation	22	40	0.06
14-day return visit	20	5	<0.05

Reason for return visit	Repeat US?	Change to US Results
Follow-up US	Yes	Initial: inconclusive Repeat: intrauterine pregnancy
Follow-up US	Yes	Initial: inconclusive Repeat: intrauterine pregnancy
Follow-up US	Yes	Initial: threatened abortion Repeat: retained POC
Follow-up US	Yes	Initial: possible molar pregnancy Repeat: molar pregnancy
Follow-up βHCG	Yes	No
Follow-up βHCG	Yes	No
Follow-up βHCG	Yes	No
Follow-up βHCG	Yes	No
Abdominal pain	Yes	No
Abdominal pain	Yes	No
Threatened abortion	Yes	No
Threatened abortion	Yes	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Unrelated chief complaint	No
Follow-up βHCG	No
Follow-up βHCG	No
Abdominal pain	No
Abdominal pain	No
Abdominal pain	No
Abdominal pain	No

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