Published online May 1, 2008
PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 No. 5 May 2008, pp. e1404-e1412 (doi:10.1542/peds.2007-1816)
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STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW ARTICLE

Bedside Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Jason A. Levy, MDa and Vicki E. Noble, MD, RDMSb

a Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
b Division of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT

Bedside emergency ultrasound has been used by emergency physicians for >20 years for a variety of conditions. In adult centers, emergency ultrasound is routinely used in the management of victims of blunt abdominal trauma, in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and biliary disease, and in women with first-trimester pregnancy complications. Although its use has grown dramatically in the last decade in adult emergency departments, only recently has this tool been embraced by pediatric emergency physicians. As the modality advances and becomes more available, it will be important for primary care pediatricians to understand its uses and limitations and to ensure that pediatric emergency physicians have access to the proper training, equipment, and experience. This article is meant to review the current literature relating to emergency ultrasound in pediatric emergency medicine, as well as to describe potential pediatric applications.

Key Words: emergency ultrasound • bedside ultrasound • ultrasound • sonography

Abbreviations: EUS—emergency ultrasound • ED—emergency department • EP—emergency physician • FAST—focused assessment with sonography in trauma • CT—computed tomography • DPL—diagnostic peritoneal lavage • CI—confidence interval • IV—intravenous • PEA—pulseless electrical activity • ETT—endotracheal tube

Accepted Nov 8, 2007.