Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Crohn’s Disease-Related Intraabdominal Abscess in the Emergency Department

Authors

Kevin Rivera Rodriguez, HCA HealthcareFollow
Gabriel Cabrera, HCA HealthcareFollow
Eric Kalivoda, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

West Florida

Hospital

Brandon Regional Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

4-4-2021

Keywords

point-of-care ultrasound, ultrasonography, intraabdominal abscess, crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, emergency department

Disciplines

Digestive System Diseases | Emergency Medicine | Gastroenterology

Abstract

The emergency department (ED) diagnosis of Crohn’s disease (CD)-associated complications is typically established with abdominopelvic computed tomography imaging. Ultrasonography has been suggested as an effective alternative modality for diagnosing several CD complications, including intraabdominal abscesses. We report the identification of a CD-related intraabdominal abscess by emergency physician (EP)-performed point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). This case highlights the feasibility of EPs integrating POCUS into the clinical decision-making for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the ED.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

Recommended Citation

Rivera K, Cabrera G, Kalivoda EJ. Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Crohn’s Disease-Related Intraabdominal Abscess in the Emergency Department. Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14290. doi:10.7759/cureus.14290