Ocular Ultrasound to Diagnose Posterior Chamber Pathology in the ED

In the hands of ED providers with varied ultrasound experience, ocular ultrasound was highly sensitive for retinal detachment and less accurate for vitreous hemorrhage and vitreous detachment.

Previous small studies have reported varying accuracy for emergency department (ED) point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to diagnose retinal detachment (NEJM JW Emerg Med Jul 2018 and Acad Emerg Med 2019; 26:16), but large studies assessing accuracy for multiple diagnoses have been lacking.

To determine the test characteristics of POCUS to diagnose retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and vitreous detachment, researchers enrolled patients being evaluated for these diagnoses at one of four EDs. Patients underwent POCUS performed by their ED provider and were then evaluated by an ophthalmologist blinded to the POCUS results, whose diagnosis was considered the criterion standard. The study involved 75 ED providers (20 attending physicians, 5 ph…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Ocular Ultrasound to Diagnose Posterior Chamber Pathology in the ED

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Reviewing Author