Montaigu Vendee

Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO) often leads to emergency department visits and is usually diagnosed using an abdominal CT scan. Although CT scans help guide treatment decisions such as surgery or medical management, they have drawbacks including radiation exposure, higher costs, and longer emergency department stays. Researchers are evaluating the use of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) combined with a clinical assessment called Gestalt probability to safely rule out SBO in patients with low or moderate risk, potentially reducing the need for CT scans. In this diagnostic multicenter study, trained emergency physicians perform POCUS on patients presenting with suspected SBO who have been assessed as having low or moderate Gestalt clinical probability. The ultrasound looks for signs of SBO in nine abdominal zones using a curvilinear probe. After POCUS, all patients undergo a CT scan, which serves as the gold standard for confirming SBO. The study aims to assess the ability of POCUS to exclude SBO in this patient group, with participation lasting 28 days including follow-up. Participants are involved during their emergency department visit with POCUS and CT imaging, followed by a phone call at 28 days. Researchers collect information on POCUS findings, duration, difficulty, and investigator details, while CT results are interpreted independently. The main outcome measures include the accuracy of POCUS to rule out SBO in patients with low or moderate Gestalt probability, aiming to improve patient care by reducing unnecessary CT scans, radiation exposure, costs, and radiologist workload.