Abstract
BackgroundRuptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a highly lethal condition which requires rapid identification and treatment to improve the chance of survival. Computed tomography is the diagnostic modality of choice for ruptured AAA though it is time-consuming and often requires movement of the patient out of the emergency department (ED). Point-of-care ultrasound in the ED has excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of AAA, though less is known about its use to diagnose AAA rupture. We report a case of ruptured AAA identified on ultrasound performed at the bedside in the ED.Case presentationA 77-year-old woman on warfarin with a known AAA presented to our ED with 2 days of epigastric abdominal pain. Point-of-care ultrasound revealed several findings suggestive of rupture of the AAA, which was confirmed on computed tomography. The patient was subsequently taken for emergent operative repair of the AAA and was later discharged from the hospital.ConclusionsCharacteristics suggestive of AAA rupture may be seen on ultrasound. As ED physicians become more familiar with the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation of abdominal pain, identification of these characteristics may aid in the rapid diagnosis of AAA rupture.
Highlights
ConclusionsCharacteristics suggestive of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture may be seen on ultrasound. As emergency department (ED) physicians become more familiar with the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation of abdominal pain, identification of these characteristics may aid in the rapid diagnosis of AAA rupture
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a highly lethal condition which requires rapid identification and treatment to improve the chance of survival
With point-of-care ultrasound part of the core emergency medicine curriculum in the United States, emergency physicians have become quite adept at using this imaging modality to diagnose AAA [4]
Summary
Characteristics suggestive of AAA rupture may be seen on ultrasound. As ED physicians become more familiar with the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation of abdominal pain, identification of these characteristics may aid in the rapid diagnosis of AAA rupture.
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