Ultrasound soft-tissue applications in the pediatric emergency department: to drain or not to drain?

Pediatr Emerg Care. 2009 Jan;25(1):44-8. doi: 10.1097/PEC.0b013e318191d963.

Abstract

Soft tissue infections frequently prompt visits to the pediatric emergency department. The incidence of these infections has increased markedly in recent years. The emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is associated with an increasing morbidity, mortality, and frequency of abscess formation. Bedside ultrasound may have a significant impact in the management of patients that present to the pediatric emergency department with soft tissue infections, including cellulitis, cutaneous abscess, peritonsillar abscess, and necrotizing fasciitis. Ultrasound is an efficient, noninvasive diagnostic tool which can augment the physician's clinical examination. Ultrasound has been shown to be superior to clinical judgment alone in determining the presence or the absence of occult abscess formation, ensuring appropriate management and limiting unnecessary invasive procedures.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / diagnostic imaging*
  • Abscess / drug therapy
  • Abscess / epidemiology
  • Abscess / surgery
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cellulitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Cellulitis / drug therapy
  • Cellulitis / epidemiology
  • Cellulitis / surgery
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drainage*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / diagnostic imaging
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / drug therapy
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / epidemiology
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / surgery
  • Humans
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Peritonsillar Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Peritonsillar Abscess / drug therapy
  • Peritonsillar Abscess / epidemiology
  • Peritonsillar Abscess / surgery
  • Point-of-Care Systems
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / surgery
  • Soft Tissue Infections / diagnostic imaging*
  • Soft Tissue Infections / drug therapy
  • Soft Tissue Infections / epidemiology
  • Soft Tissue Infections / surgery
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / surgery
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents