Bedside sonography for the diagnosis of esophageal food impaction.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal foreign body (EFB) and impaction are common gastrointestinal emergencies. Detection with standard imaging can be challenging. Computed tomography is a commonly used non-invasive imaging modality, but is not 100% sensitive and not always feasible. Sensitivity of plain film x-ray varies widely and the addition of a barium swallow can obscure evaluation by subsequent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Use of emergency ultrasound (EUS) for detection of EFB in adults has not been previously studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of EUS in detection of EFB and to characterize sonographic findings. METHODS: A case control series of five patients with clinical suspicion of EFB underwent EUS, and findings were compared to five healthy controls. Patients were evaluated for persistent air-fluid levels after swallowing, esophageal dilatation, and visualization of EFB. RESULTS: All patients with suspected EFB had esophageal dilatation (17.5mm vs 9.3mm in healthy controls; p=0.0011) and persistent air-fluid levels after swallowing. EFB was visualized on EUS in 60% of patients. All patients had EFB confirmed on EGD except one, who vomited a significant food bolus during EUS and prior to EGD. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected EFB, point-of-care ultrasound may identify those with impaction. Suggestive findings include cervical esophageal dilatation and persistent intraluminal air-fluid levels after swallowing. EUS is a rapid, convenient test with the potential to expedite definitive management while decreasing cost and radiation exposure in this patient population.

Emergency ultrasound of acute scrotal pain.

Patients presenting with acute scrotal pain to the emergency department require a timely diagnosis. Although the differential diagnosis can be extensive and varies with age, there are a few conditions that are considered true surgical emergencies. These include torsion of the spermatic cord, incarcerated hernia with strangulation, testicular trauma leading to rupture or organ-threatening hematomas, and Fournier's gangrene. These are conditions that need to be kept in mind by the physician when approaching such patients. Other causes such as epididymitis or orchitis need to be distinguished, and although not requiring emergency surgery, still require urgent diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic ultrasound can accurately diagnose many acute conditions of the scrotum, and emergency physicians have come to utilize it to advance their diagnostic acumen. This educational review article discusses the current literature and the use of emergency ultrasound in patients presenting with scrotal pain as well as scanning approaches and common sonographic findings.