Point-of-care ultrasound in a resource-limited setting: diagnosing intussusception

Abstract

Background: Department of Radiology performed ultrasound for patients suspected of having intussusception in resource-limited settings might be either unavailable or significantly time delayed.

Objective: Our objective was to present a case of intussusception successfully diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound and to review the sonographic appearance and diagnostic criteria for intussusception.

Case report: An emergency physician utilized point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose intussusception in a young patient in Haiti.

Conclusions: In resource-limited settings, point-of-care ultrasound performed by a physician trained to diagnose intussusception can reduce the time to definitive management and thereby potentially reduce complications such as bowel ischemia and necrosis, dehydration, and sepsis.

Keywords: international Emergency Medicine; intussusception; point-of-care ultrasound.