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Updated: Aug 28, 2026

An Approach to Point-Of-Care Ultrasound Evaluation of the Abdominal Aorta
Published on: September 8, 2023
Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Identified on Point-of-Care Ultrasound
1Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Case Presentation:
A 78-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain was found to have a tender, pulsatile abdominal mass on examination. Point-of-care ultrasound demonstrated an abdominal aortic aneurysm with findings concerning for active rupture. Emergent computed tomography angiography confirmed rupture with a large retroperitoneal hematoma.
Discussion:
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a catastrophic diagnosis associated with high mortality, particularly when recognition is delayed. Point-of-care ultrasound is well established for identifying aneurysmal dilation; however, direct visualization of active rupture is rarely described.
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