Intracranial hemorrhage detected through a craniotomy site with point of care ultrasound

Abstract A 60‐year‐old male presented to the emergency department with acute change in mental status while recovering from a recent hemicraniectomy. During evaluation by the emergency physician, a point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) was performed using the patient's existing craniectomy site as a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Svetlana Zakharchenko, Allyson Hansen, Aminat Ibikunle, Richard Devasagayaraj, Patrick Charles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-06-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12419
Description
Summary:Abstract A 60‐year‐old male presented to the emergency department with acute change in mental status while recovering from a recent hemicraniectomy. During evaluation by the emergency physician, a point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) was performed using the patient's existing craniectomy site as a sonographic window. Multiple areas of intracranial hemorrhage were visualized on POCUS and head computed tomography scan ultimately requiring urgent neurosurgical intervention. Our case report demonstrates an innovative application of POCUS in the emergency department‐ setting that has potential to expedite diagnosis and management of life‐threatening neurosurgical etiologies, such as hemorrhage and midline shift, in a unique patient population.
ISSN:2688-1152