Diagnosis of pediatric intussusception by an emergency physician-performed bedside ultrasound: a case report

Abstract

The past decade has seen a rapid evolution in the use of bedside ultrasound (BUS) in the emergency department (ED). In addition, it has been increasingly used in the pediatric population for a variety of indications. As ED BUS is a relatively new modality in pediatric emergency medicine, novel indications are increasingly being recognized. We report a case of a 9-month-old infant who presented with signs and symptoms suggestive of intussusception, whose diagnosis was made using ED BUS in the pediatric ED. Knowledge of the sonographic appearance of intussusception can aid the emergency physician in the prompt diagnosis of this condition while potentially minimizing complications that may result from a delay in diagnosis.