Clinical decision-making using biliary PoCUS
| Scenario | Decision; no. (%) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, definitely | Likely yes | Maybe | Likely no | No, definitely not | |
| A patient presents with a history consistent with unremitting biliary colic and normal blood work. Is the finding of gallstones on PoCUS enough for you to | |||||
| Admit overnight for unremitting biliary colic | 14 (10.9) | 43 (33.3) | 37 (28.7) | 23 (17.8) | 12 (9.3) |
| Diagnose biliary colic | 14 (10.9) | 32 (24.8) | 47 (36.4) | 26 (20.2) | 10 (7.8) |
| Operate for biliary colic | 6 (4.7) | 9 (7.0) | 15 (11.7) | 31 (24.2) | 67 (52.3) |
| A patient presents with elevated white count, RUQ pain and normal bilirubin. Are the findings of sonographic Murphy sign and gallstones on PoCUS enough for you to | |||||
| Admit overnight for cholecystitis | 31 (24.0) | 44 (34.1) | 32 (24.8) | 14 (10.9) | 8 (6.2) |
| Diagnose cholecystitis | 15 (11.6) | 32 (24.8) | 40 (31.0) | 28 (21.7) | 15 (11.6) |
| Operate for cholecystitis | 7 (5.4) | 9 (7.0) | 17 (13.3) | 37 (28.9) | 58 (45.3) |
PoCUS = point of care ultrasound; RUQ = right upper quadrant.