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Author Spotlight: Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Gastric Content Assessment and Risk Stratification in Perioperative Care
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An unusual case of an icteric infant with abdominal distention

Gabriel Wardi1, Paul Ishimine2, Daniel Lasoff1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, California.

The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|March 25, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Biliary rupture is a rare cause of jaundice in infants. Emergency physicians can use bedside ultrasound to diagnose this serious condition in young patients with abdominal distention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Abdominal Imaging
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Jaundice in infants is infrequent in emergency departments.
  • Biliary rupture is a rare and under-described cause of infant jaundice.
  • Prompt diagnosis is crucial for favorable outcomes.

Observation:

  • A 5-month-old male presented with jaundice, abdominal distention, and irritability.
  • Bedside ultrasound revealed moderate ascites.
  • Further imaging suggested a rupture of the common bile duct.

Findings:

  • Surgical exploration confirmed common bile duct rupture.
  • Choledocholithiasis was identified as the likely cause.
  • This case highlights a rare pediatric surgical emergency.

Implications:

  • Emergency physicians should consider biliary rupture in infants with unexplained jaundice and abdominal distention.
  • Bedside ultrasound is a valuable tool for initial assessment in the emergency department.
  • Early recognition and intervention are critical for managing this rare condition.
Abstract

Keywords:
biliary rupturecholedocholithiasisjaundice

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