Critical Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Fournier's Gangrene: A Case Report.

Lauren Ramm,Connie Yu,Kayla Guidry,Angela Cirilli,Ellen Kurkowski

doi:10.5811/cpcem.2021.11.54849

Lauren Ramm, Connie Yu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.5811/cpcem.2021.11.54849

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Abstract

IntroductionFournier’s gangrene is a severe, necrotizing, and potentially fatal, soft tissue infection of the perineum that can be difficult to diagnose clinically. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has established a critical role in emergency medicine as a quick diagnostic tool due to its safety, accuracy, and cost effectiveness.Case ReportWe present a case in which POCUS was used to rapidly confirm diagnosis in an unstable, severely septic patient presenting to the emergency department with Fournier’s gangrene.ConclusionPoint-of-care ultrasound can be used to make the diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene in critical patients when other diagnostic modalities are not feasible due to a patient’s clinical state.

Highlights

Fournier’s gangrene is a severe, necrotizing, and potentially fatal, soft tissue infection of the perineum that can be difficult to diagnose clinically
Case Report: We present a case in which point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was used to rapidly confirm diagnosis in an unstable, severely septic patient presenting to the emergency department with Fournier’s gangrene
What is the major learning point? Sonographic diagnosis of Fournier’s gangrene is a skill similar to other soft tissue diagnoses; POCUS can be performed looking for the signs identified in this case. How might this improve emergency medicine practice? Point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose Fournier’s gangrene and other necrotizing soft tissue infections has the potential to decrease the time to diagnosis and treatment

Summary

Introduction

Fournier’s gangrene is a severe, necrotizing, and potentially fatal, soft tissue infection of the perineum that can be difficult to diagnose clinically. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has established a critical role in emergency medicine as a quick diagnostic tool due to its safety, accuracy, and cost effectiveness. Case Report: We present a case in which POCUS was used to rapidly confirm diagnosis in an unstable, severely septic patient presenting to the emergency department with Fournier’s gangrene

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