Use of Bedside Ultrasound to Diagnose a Bleeding Hepatic Mass in a Patient with Post-Prandial Right Upper Quadrant Pain

Emergency physicians can utilize bedside ultrasound to aid them in the diagnosis of a variety of abdominal complaints. In this case an emergency physician utilized bedside abdominal ultrasound to diagnose intra-abdominal free fluid in an elderly patient with post-prandial abdominal pain. Without bedside ultrasound, this patient would have likely been discharged from the emergency department without correctly making a crucial, life saving diagnosis. The sonographic appearance and diagnostic criteria of an abnormal abdominal ultrasound, characterized by intra-abdominal free fluid, are reviewed. Bedside ultrasound by a physician trained in this imaging modality can diagnose abdominal emergencies, facilitating appropriate consultation and treatment.