Ultrasound of The Pediatric Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Abstract

Background: The use of ultrasound has gained significant significance as a diagnostic method for pediatric gastrointestinal emergencies. The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the role of ultrasound in diagnosing non-traumatic gastrointestinal emergencies in children. Methods: This observational study included 100 pediatric patients, both sexes, aged 0-16 years old, who presented at the emergency department at Benha University Hospital with acute abdominal pain and were directed to abdominal ultrasound in the Radiology Department between July 2022 and December 2022. All patients were subjected to detailed history taking, full clinical examinations, routine laboratory investigations and Radiological investigations including abdominal-pelvic ultrasound and CT abdomen if needed. Results: the age ranged from 3 to 16 years with a mean ± SD of 9.8 ± 4.34 years. 43 (43%) patients had Rt lower ¼ pain, 95 (95%) patients had abdominal pain, 37 (37%) patients had ileus, 41 (41%) patients had diarrhea, 17 (17%) patients had hematochezia, 63 (63%) patients had vomiting, 29 (29%) patients had fever and 44 (44%) patients had worse general conditions. Free intra-abdominal fluid represented 10 (10%) patients, portal vein gas represented 6 (6%) patients, loculated Rt lower ¼ mass represented 4 (4%) patients, abscess represented 2 (2%) patients, fluid-filled, uncompressible, blind-ending tubular structure represented 26 (26%) patients, distended, fluid-filled bowel loops represented 30 (30%) patients, pseudo kidney appearance represented 8 (8%) patients, doughnut sign represented 17 (17%) patients, target sign represented 40 (40%) patients, enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes represented 33 (33%) patients. Conclusions: Ultrasonography (US) is a key imaging tool for the evaluation of acute abdominal pain, especially in young patients, for whom a satisfactory examination is occasionally impossible.