• Lisa Mills, Eric J Morley, Zachary Soucy, Gary M Vilke, and Lam Samuel H F SHF Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California..
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California.
• J Emerg Med. 2018 Feb 1; 54 (2): 215-220.

BackgroundThis review provides practicing emergency physicians updated information regarding point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) imaging of patients with suspected urolithiasis.MethodsA PubMed literature search was conducted for articles published between January 1, 1996 and May 31, 2017 and limited to human clinical trials written in English with relevant keywords. High-quality studies identified then underwent a structured review. Recommendations herein are made based on the literature review.ResultsTwo hundred seventy-two abstracts fulfilling the search criteria were screened and 10 appropriate articles were rigorously reviewed in detail. There were 8 prospective studies and 2 retrospective studies. Only 1 of them was a multi-institutional randomized trial. POCUS performed in the emergency department (ED) is moderately sensitive and specific in making the diagnosis of urolithiasis in symptomatic patients. Suspected urolithiasis patients evaluated initially with ED POCUS have complication rates compatible with those evaluated initially with computed tomography.ConclusionsPOCUS has moderate accuracy in making the diagnosis of urolithiasis. Nevertheless, it may be safely used as a first line of imaging in ED patients with suspected symptomatic urolithiaisis.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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