| Point-of-care ultrasound by emergency physicians for direct ureteral stone detection: a case series and review of the literature |
| Nadav Granat1,2, Evan Avraham Alpert3,4 |
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
2Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
3Department of Emergency Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center-Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel
4Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel |
| Correspondence
Evan Avraham Alpert Email: Evanavrahamalpert@gmail.com |
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Received: July 24, 2023. Revised: September 12, 2023. Accepted: September 23, 2023. Published online: January 29, 2024. |
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| ABSTRACT |
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Symptomatic urolithiasis is a common cause of emergency department visits, with noncontrast computed tomography considered the imaging gold standard. According to current guidelines, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is limited to the evaluation of hydronephrosis as a secondary sign of acute ureteral stones. However, the use of POCUS to detect ureteral stones may lead to decreased radiation to the patient and a more rapid diagnosis. This case series describes 10 patients with suspected symptomatic urolithiasis who were diagnosed accurately by emergency physicians using POCUS to detect obstructive ureteral stones. In three of the cases, POCUS significantly changed the patient's management. This article also describes the proper techniques for the emergency physician to learn to master POCUS for ureteral stone detection. |
| Keywords:
Ultrasonography; Point-of-care ultrasound; Emergency departments; Kidney calculi; Case reports |
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