Mount Sinai Emergency Medicine Ultrasound

On September 28 Dr. Suzanne Bentley presented the abstract:

Ultrasound evaluation for appendicitis in children: Can we safely reduce CT scan utilization?

Bentley S, Nelson BP, Zahn L

at ACEP in Las Vegas. Data on using ultrasound as a first-line diagnostic modality (instead of CT scan) were discussed, with implications for diagnostic accuracy, radiation exposure, and length of stay. This was abstract #001, which carries no more prestige than #998 but we will be proud anyway.

A great deal of attention has recently focused on radiation exposure risks, and many organizations have allied to reduce necessary imaging. The Image Gently Alliance for example boasts dozens of member organizations and has done a great deal to educate providers about the risks of ionizing radiation in imaging. A brief article on the study was published by Reuters Health:

For pediatric appendicitis, ultrasound cuts radiation, saves time over CAT scans (subscription only)

Emergency Medicine has advocated the use of ultrasound for quite some time. As point-of-care ultrasound as well as radiology department ultrasound gain ground we hope to make informed diagnostic decisions while minimizing risks.

Bret Nelson and Mt. Sinai’s director of Disaster Preparedness and Prehospital Care, Kevin Chason, collaborated on this pilot study on use of Prehospital FAST and Aorta US which showed that paramedics can obtain and interpret these studies.

Visual Diagnosis Case from JEM.  Bret and Ted discuss a case of appendicitis confirmed with ultrasound after CT was not conclusive.

The ultrasound division is proud to welcome two research scholars: Dr. Hong Chuen Toh and Dr. Shiang-Hu Ang.

Dr Hong Chuen Toh is an Associate Consultant from the Department of Emergency Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore. He obtained his bachelor degree in medicine and surgery M.B.B.S (Singapore) in 2000 and post graduate degree in Accident and Emergency Medicine MRCSEd (A&E) in 2007. He’s a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and his main sub-clinical interest is in emergency ultrasound. He has organized many WINFOCUS courses at his home hospital.
Dr. Shiang-Hu Ang (also known as Ash) is from Singapore’s Changi General Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine. He has been tasked to set up an emergency ultrasound service for his department. His interests include emergency ultrasound as well as emergency critical care, and his research interests lie in the ever expanding field of emergency soft-tissue ultrasound. He also manages the website of the Society for Emergency Medicine in Singapore- please check it out!

www.semsonline.org