Diagnostic Performance of Point of Care Ultrasound to Identify Intestinal Obstruction
Diagnostic Performance of Point of Care Ultrasound to Identify Intestinal Obstruction
As reported in previous studies, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has good performance for
 the diagnosis of bowel obstruction even when compared with CT. This inexpensive,
 radiation-free tool is available in a majority of ED. It is performed at the patient's
 bedside with immediate results. The learning curve allows Emergency Physicians (EP) to
 perform this exam after a relative brief training period.

 The investigators aim to investigate the ability of POCUS performed before CT to exclude the
 diagnosis of bowel obstruction in patients admitted for abdominal pain.
Bowel obstruction (BO) is frequently suspected in the Emergency Department (ED). Computed
 Tomography (CT) is commonly used to diagnose this disease. However, CT is not always
 available in real-time, requires technician times, is associated with increased cost and
 exposes patients to radiations.

 The researchers will investigate the diagnosis performances of POCUS for the diagnosis of BO
 with comparison with CT which will be considered as the gold standard. The wain objective
 will be the ability to exclude the diagnosis of BO, the main criteria being the negative
 predictive value. The secondary objectives will be the diagnosis performances (sensitivity,
 specificity, positive predictive value), duration and difficulty of POCUS
Inclusion Criteria :

 -  Adult patients

 -  Abdominal pain

 -  Suspected bowel obstruction

 Exclusion Criteria :

 - Documented end-of-life precluding CT realization