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Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation
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Gastric Point of Care Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition and Interpretation

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Evaluation of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis by pediatric emergency physician sonography

Adam B Sivitz1, Cena Tejani, Stephanie G Cohen

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Children's Hospital of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA. asivitz@gmail.com

Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
|June 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric emergency physicians can accurately diagnose hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) using ultrasound. Their sonography demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity in identifying HPS in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) is a common cause of nonbilious vomiting in infants.
  • Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management.
  • Pediatric emergency physicians (EPs) are increasingly utilizing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound performed by pediatric EPs for suspected HPS in infants.
  • To compare measurements made by EPs with those made by radiology staff.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational pilot study conducted in a pediatric emergency department.
  • Included infants with suspected HPS requiring abdominal ultrasound.
  • Pediatric EPs performed initial ultrasound examinations.

Main Results:

  • Sixty-seven infants were enrolled. Pediatric EPs achieved 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in identifying the pylorus in HPS cases.
  • No statistically significant differences were found between EP and radiology staff measurements of pyloric muscle width or length.

Conclusions:

  • Trained pediatric EPs can accurately perform and interpret ultrasounds for HPS evaluation.
  • Point-of-care ultrasound by EPs is a reliable tool for diagnosing HPS in infants.
Abstract

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