Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of a pyogenic liver abscess in the emergency department.

Authors

Matthew B. McClure, HCA HealthcareFollow
Kishan Patel, HCA HealthcareFollow
Gabriel Cabrera, HCA HealthcareFollow
Eric J. Kalivoda, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

West Florida

Hospital

Brandon Regional Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

4-1-2021

Keywords

emergency department, emergency ultrasound, hepatic abscess, point‐of‐care ultrasound, pyogenic liver abscess, ultrasonography

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Digestive System Diseases | Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a rarely encountered condition in the emergency department (ED) that necessitates a timely diagnosis by the emergency physician. An early ED diagnosis is challenging as the presenting symptoms of PLA are often variable and nonspecific. The rapid bedside diagnosis of PLA with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by emergency physicians has not been investigated thoroughly. This case report describes the expeditious identification and ED management of PLA by implementing emergency physician-performed POCUS as the initial diagnostic modality.

Publisher or Conference

Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open

Recommended Citation

McClure MB, Patel K, Cabrera G, Kalivoda EJ. Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of a pyogenic liver abscess in the emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2021;2(2):e12412. Published 2021 Apr 1. https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12412