30 year old female is brought by EMS from an outpatient surgery center for evaluation of persistent hypotension and vaginal bleeding after an elective abortion and D&E at approximately 20 weeks gestation. Initial vitals on arrival were T 98.6 F, HR 99, BP 62/palp, RR 21, O2 100%. On exam, patient was pale and lethargic but mentation intact. There is scant vaginal bleeding on pelvic exam. A bedside FAST is performed and shown below. What is the interpretation of the FAST, and which views demonstrate free fluid if present?

Answer: Free Fluid in RUQ, LUQ, and Pelvis

The patient received 2 units of uncrossed pRBCs in addition to 1g TXA IV and was taken emergently to the OR with OBGYN for exploratory laparotomy. She was found to have 1500 ccs of hemoperitoneum from an actively bleeding R uterine artery laceration. She did well post-op and was discharged a few days later!

Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma

• High sensitivity and specificity for detecting intra-abdominal free fluid in hypotensive trauma patients.
• Four views: RUQ, LUQ, cardiac, and suprapubic
• Where you’ll find free fluid:
  • RUQ: 1. Subdiaphragmatic space, 2. Hepatorenal space (Morrison’s pouch), and 3. Caudal edge of the liver
    • Most sensitive area for intra-abdominal free fluid is the RUQ – more specifically, the caudal edge of the liver (contiguous with right paracolic gutter)
  • LUQ: 1. Subdiaphragmatic space, 2. Splenorenal space, and 3. Inferior pole of the left kidney
  • Cardiac: 1. pericardial effusion
  • Pelvis: 1. Between the bladder and uterus (in females), 2. Posterior to the uterus (in females), and 3. Posterolateral to the bladder
    • Fluid in the pelvis will first accumulate in the rectouterine pouch of Douglas in females, and the posterior bladder margin in males. Prostate may be confused with free fluid but is generally more hyperechoic and discrete in structure.

Key learning point for this case: clotted blood is more hyperechoic and can start to resemble tissue or other structures. Easy to miss if not looking closely.

References:

1. Lobo V, Hunter-Behrend M, Cullnan E, Higbee R, Phillips C, Williams S, Perera P, Gharahbaghian L. Caudal Edge of the Liver in the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) View Is the Most Sensitive Area for Free Fluid on the FAST Exam. West J Emerg Med. 2017 Feb;18(2):270-280. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2016.11.30435. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28210364; PMCID: PMC5305137.
2. Ultrasound Guidelines: Emergency, Point-of-Care and Clinical Ultrasound Guidelines in Medicine. Ann Emerg Med ​​. 2017 May;69(5):e27-e54. Doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.08.457.
3. “Fundamentals.” Core Ultrasound Courses, courses.coreultrasound.com/courses/fundamentals. Accessed 2 May 2024.

A 31 yo male presents with left thumb pain after a dirt bike crash.  Patient is unable to move his left thumb and has tenderness at the base. An x-ray is shown below.  What’s the diagnosis?

Answer: Type I first metacarpal fracture (Bennett fracture)

• Most commonly occurs in young males from forceful axial load against a fixed object (sports, bicycle accident, punching), presents with pain and swelling at thenar eminence, decreased range of motion at MCP/CMC joints
• Diagnosis of first metacarpal fractures usually made by plain radiograph
• Management with reduction (may be accomplished with longitudinal traction, abduction and extension of first MC), thumb spica splint, and prompt orthopedic follow up.  May require percutaneous pin fixation or open reduction and internal fixation.

Classification of first metacarpal base fractures

1. Type I, Bennett fracture: intra-articular fracture-dislocation/subluxation at the CMC joint
2. Type II, Rolando fracture: a comminuted Bennett fracture
3. Type III, (no eponym): extra articular fracture
4. Type IV, (no eponym): extra-articular pediatric fracture involving the proximal physis

References:

Stapczynski, J. Stephan,, and Judith E. Tintinalli. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education LLC., 2011.

75 y/o M PMHx of ESRD on HD, pulmonary HTN, HLD presents to the ED with 1 week of progressive fatigue and SOB. Pt on 2L NC home O2 but requiring 4L NC in the ED to maintain saturation > 95%. On exam, pt with increased WOB and RR > 20. Lungs are CTA. Cardiac exam shows RRR with mild JVD, abdominal distention and +1 pitting edema B/L. POCUS was performed and is shown below. What is the diagnosis? 

Answer: Right Heart Strain from Pulmonary Hypertension 

• Signs in POCUS that are indicative of R heart strain:
  • D-sign: septal flattening seen in the parasternal short orientation that is indicative of increased RV pressures 
  • McConnel’s Sign: seen in the apical 4 chamber view. R ventricular free wall akinesis with sparing of the apex (apical hyperkinesis) 
  • Increased RV:LV ratio, typically should be ⅓:⅔ 
  • Decreased TAPSE: measurement of the vertical motion of the tricuspid valve in the apical 4 chamber view (normal > 16 mm)
• Causes of R- Heart Strain:
  • Pulmonary Embolism
  • Pulmonary hypertension 
  • Biventricular failure
  • R sided heart failure 
  • Valvular dysfunction (Acute TR) 
• Pulmonary Hypertension:
  • Type 1: primary arterial pulmonary HTN 
  • Type 2: PH due to L heart failure
  • Type 3: PH due to lung disease 
  • Type 4: PH due to chronic thromboembolic disease 
  • Type 5: idiopathic PH 
• Acute Treatment for PH includes
  • Optimize RV preload- patients typically euvolemic or hypervolemic and do not respond well to rapid shifts in fluid status (usually avoid fluids). If hypovolemia/sepsis consider small 250 ml boluses with frequent reassessments 
  • Improve cardiac output: consider early ionotropes 
  • Reduce RV afterload: avoid hypoxia, acidosis, hypercapnia 
  • Treat arrhythmias: most common is SVT followed by afib/flutter 

Resources: 

https://courses.coreultrasound.com/courses/take/fundamentals/lessons/18316427-right-heart-strain-5minsono

A 39 y.o. woman who is G9P1 and currently 6 weeks pregnant presents to the ED with a chief complaint of vaginal bleeding that began in the morning with associated lower abdominal pain and lightheadedness. Physical exam demonstrates lower abdominal tenderness without peritonitis and a small amount of blood in the posterior vaginal fossa with a closed cervical os. You obtain a serum HCG which is 8,960 and perform a transvaginal ultrasound which demonstrates the following. What’s the diagnosis?

Answer: Ectopic Pregnancy

• When performing a pelvic US in the ED, the focused question is: “Is there an intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) or not?”
• To diagnose an IUP, one must visualize a gestational sac AND either a yolk sac or fetal pole within the uterus.
• In this patient, no gestational sac nor yolk sac are visualized within the uterus.
• The left adnexa demonstrates a tubal ring concerning for an ectopic pregnancy. OBGYN was consulted who took the patient Level 1 to the OR where the ectopic pregnancy was confirmed and removed along with a left salpingectomy.

Resources:

Heaton, Heather. “Chapter 98: Ectopic Pregnancy and Emergencies in the First 20 Weeks of Pregnancy.” Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine A Comprehensive Study GUide, 9th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2020, pp. 615–623.

Pontius E. Ectopic Pregnancy & Heterotopic Pregnancy. In: Johnson W, Nordt S, Mattu A and Swadron S, eds. CorePendium. Burbank, CA: CorePendium, LLC. https://www.emrap.org/corependium/chapter/reci4t2X66l3qk1SX/Ectopic-Pregnancy-and-Heterotopic-Pregnancy#h.za15ev4ckcfv. Updated February 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.

25 year-old female presents following a fall from her horse 5 days ago. She complains of severe pain in the radial aspect of her right wrist and has no other injuries.  Plain films at an outside ED immediately following the injury were negative, and repeat plain films are shown here. What’s the diagnosis?

Answer: Non-displaced Scaphoid Waist Fracture

• The most common carpal bone fracture (60-70% of all carpal fractures). 10-30% of scaphoid fractures are not detected on the first set of plain films, but “scaphoid view” plain films (i.e., AP wrist with ulnar deviation) can improve the view of the scaphoid.
• If a scaphoid fracture is clinically suspected, the patient should be placed in a thumb spica splint and follow up in 7-10 days for repeat plain films and reexamination
• The most feared complication of a scaphoid fracture is avascular necrosis (AVN) of the proximal fracture segment. AVN is more likely in unstable scaphoid fractures, for example those that are proximal, oblique, displaced >1 mm, rotated, or comminuted. These require surgical consult and long arm thumb spica splint.
• Stable fractures can be splinted with a short arm thumb spica splint and patients should be instructed to follow up with orthopedics in 7-10 days

References:

Escarza, Robert et al. “Chapter 266. Wrist Injuries.” Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine a Comprehensive Study Guide, 7e.  Eds, Judith E. Tintinalli, et al.  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2011.

DeAngelis, Michael A and David A Wald. “Wrist.” Simon’s Emergency Orthopedics, 7e.  Ed. Scott C Sherman.  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2014

Jordanov, Martin I and Robert Warne Fitch. “Chapter 9 Upper Extremity.” The Atlas of Emergency Radiology. Eds. Jake Block et al.  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2013

A 20 year old male presents to the emergency department via EMS for left knee pain. He was playing basketball when he jumped and felt a “pop” in his left knee and has been unable to walk on his left leg since. He denies falling. On exam, the left lower extremity is distally neurovascularly intact with normal strength, sensation, and a palpable pulse. There is slight bogginess and swelling with tenderness to palpation to the inferior knee. He is unable to extend at the knee. A point of care ultrasound of the bilateral knees is performed and shown below. What’s the diagnosis?

Answer: Left patellar tendon rupture

• Commonly occurs from forced quadriceps contraction or falling on a flexed knee.
• Associated with a high-riding patella also known as patella alta which can be appreciated on physical exam and lateral radiographs of the knee.
• There is emerging data demonstrating point of care ultrasound as a quick and effective method to diagnose tendon injuries in the emergency department compared to physical exam, x-ray imaging, and MRI.
• Treatment:
  • Incomplete tears with intact extensor mechanism can be immobilized and followed up outpatient with orthopedics.
  • Complete tears or loss of extensor mechanism should prompt orthopedic consultation in the ED as expedited surgical repair is often indicated.

References:

Bengtzen R. Knee Injuries. In: Tintinalli JE, Ma O, Yealy DM, Meckler GD, Stapczynski J, Cline DM, Thomas SH. eds. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9e. McGraw-Hill Education; 2020.

Berg, K., Peck, J., Boulger, C., & Bahner, D. P. (2013). Patellar tendon rupture: an ultrasound case report. BMJ case reports, 2013, bcr2012008189. https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2012-008189

Wu TS, Roque PJ, Green J, et al. Bedside ultrasound evaluation of tendon injuries. Am J Emerg Med. 2012;30(8):1617-1621. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2011.11.004