Contribution of Point of Care Ultrasound by the Emergency Physician to Rule Out the Small Bowel Obstruction: a Diagnostic, Multicenter Study

Launched by NANTES UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Jan 27, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way for emergency doctors to diagnose a condition called Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO), which can cause serious abdominal pain and other symptoms. Currently, doctors often use a CT scan to check for SBO, but this can expose patients to radiation and take a long time. The trial is exploring the use of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) as an alternative, which is a quick and safe method that could help doctors rule out SBO without needing a CT scan, especially for patients who are considered at low or moderate risk for this condition.

To be eligible, participants need to be adults over 18 years old who are experiencing symptoms like abdominal pain or vomiting and have a low to moderate chance of having SBO. Participants will receive both the ultrasound and a CT scan as part of the study. This trial aims to improve patient care by reducing unnecessary tests and costs while speeding up the diagnosis process in the emergency department. If successful, this approach could help many patients avoid the downsides of CT scans.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Major patient (age \> 18 years old), no upper limit
• • 2. Patient admitted to the ED with suspected SBO (abdominal pain, vomiting, cessation of gas and feces...)
• • 3. Low or moderate pretest Gestalt clinical probability
• • 4. Patient able to understand protocol and express agreement
• • 5. Oral non-opposition given
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patient under legal guardianship
• • 2. Pregnant women
• • 3. Nursing mothers
• • 4. Patient who does not speak or understand French
• • 5. Patient without a health insurance plan
• • 6. Patient who already had imaging confirming the diagnosis
• • 7. Patient who participates simultaneously in any interventional study focused on abdominal pain