TY - JOUR AU - Hollerweger, Alois; Maconi, Giovanni; Ripolles, Tomas; Nylund, Kim; Higginson, Antony; Serra, Carla; Dietrich, Christoph F.; Dirks, Klaus; Gilja, Odd Helge TI - Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS) in Intestinal Emergencies – An EFSUMB Position Paper TT - Gastrointestinaler Ultraschall (GIUS) bei intestinalen Notfällen – Ein EFSUMB-Positionspapier SN - 0172-4614 SN - 1438-8782 PY - 2020 JO - Ultraschall Med JF - Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound LA - DE VL - 41 IS - 06 SP - 646 EP - 657 DA - 2020/04/20 KW - ultrasound KW - ischemic bowel disease KW - gastrointestinal tract KW - bowel obstruction KW - perforation AB - An interdisciplinary group of European experts summarizes the value of gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) in the management of three time-critical causes of acute abdomen: bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation and acute ischemic bowel disease. Based on an extensive literature review, statements for a targeted diagnostic strategy in these intestinal emergencies are presented. GIUS is best established in case of small bowel obstruction. Metanalyses and prospective studies showed a sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of computed tomography (CT) and superior to plain X-ray. GIUS may save time and radiation exposure and has the advantage of displaying bowel function directly. Gastrointestinal perforation is more challenging for less experienced investigators. Although GIUS in experienced hands has a relatively high sensitivity to establish a correct diagnosis, CT is the most sensitive method in this situation. The spectrum of intestinal ischemia ranges from self-limited ischemic colitis to fatal intestinal infarction. In acute arterial mesenteric ischemia, GIUS may provide information, but prompt CT angiography is the gold standard. On the other end of the spectrum, ischemic colitis shows typical ultrasound features that allow correct diagnosis. GIUS here has a diagnostic performance similar to CT and helps to differentiate mild from severe ischemic colitis. PB - Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/a-1147-1295 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1147-1295 ER -