Occult Vascular Transection Identified by Point-of-care Ultrasound Demonstrating Evidence of Retrograde Flow
Author Department
Emergency Medicine
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
9-2019
Abstract
Acute vascular injury can be a cause of significant disability and morbidity. High clinical suspicion and a thorough physical examination are key components to facilitate a timely diagnosis. We present a case of acute vascular injury after isolated penetrating trauma. Physical examination demonstrated a strong distal radial pulse; however, point-of-care ultrasound facilitated an evaluation of the directionality of arterial flow, demonstrating that flow was retrograde via the palmar arch. We subsequently identified a proximal and complete arterial laceration.
Recommended Citation
Villarroel NA, Wagner W, Schoenfeld E. Occult Vascular Transection Identified by Point-of-care Ultrasound Demonstrating Evidence of Retrograde Flow. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2019 Sep 30;3(4):372-375.
PMID
31763591