Submitted by Edwin Ackah Andoh
A 27-year-old male presented with severe right flank pain to the emergency department. He described the pain as colicky in nature and extremely intense, prompting urgent evaluation.
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was performed to assess for possible cause of the pain. The ultrasound scan revealed moderate hydronephrosis, confirming the suspicion of obstructive uropathy. The right ureter was also dilated. The dilated right ureter was traced down to the point of obstruction at the right uretero-pelvic junction. No ureteric jets were observed on the right side with color Doppler in the bladder. The patient was immediately referred to the urologist for further evaluation and expert management. Ureteric catheter was placed to bypass the obstruction.
This case highlights the power of POCUS as a rapid, bedside diagnostic tool. In a matter of minutes, we were able to transition from a broad differential diagnosis to a clear imaging finding that guided management and prevented damage to the kidney due to backpressure.
POCUS not only expedited clinical decision-making but also provided immediate reassurance to both the patient and the treating team and helped manage the patient appropriately and prevented renal damage due to obstruction.
Has POCUS impacted the care you provided to a patient? Has it altered the course of treatment or helped you to diagnose?
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