SGEM#373 - By admin - July 30, 2022
Reference: Brower et al. Point-of-Care Ultrasound-First for the Evaluation of Small Bowel Obstruction: National Cost Savings, Length of Stay Reduction, and Preventable Radiation Exposure. AEM July 2022
CLINICAL QUESTION:
DOES USING POINT OF CARE ULTRASOUND FIRST LINE IN SUSPECTED SMALL BOWEL OBSTRUCTION REDUCE COST, LENGTH OF STAY AND RADIATION EXPOSURE?
KEY RESULT:
USING POCUS AS FIRST-LINE IMAGING IN SUSPECTED SBO COULD AVOID 143,000 CT SCANS ANNUALLY IN THE US POTENTIALLY SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
SGEM BOTTOM LINE:
POCUS AS FIRST-LINE IMAGING IN SUSPECTED SBO COULD AVOID SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF CT SCANS IN US