Hepatobiliary ultrasound.
The use of ultrasound technology in the emergency department(ED) is a recent and fast-growing phenomenon. Ultrasound is an extremely valuable tool for the evaluation of gallbladder (GB) dis-ease in the ED for several reasons: this disease is a common medical problem, cholecystitis can present in different ways clinically,the nature of the GB allows it to be well visualized by ultrasound,and ultrasound has many benefits and few complications associated with its use. This article reviews the focused examination of the GB, with specific attention to test characteristics (sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value)when performed by emergency physicians in the ED.
St. Luke's-Roosevelt/Columbia University, Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospital of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA. kshah@chpnet.org
Kaushal
K
Shah
Richard E
RE
Wolfe
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods