# Return of the Living Dead Gut – A Case Report of Ischemic Colitis Identified on Point of Care Ultrasound

## TL;DR

This case report shows how point-of-care ultrasound can help diagnose ischemic colitis quickly in the emergency department.

## Contribution

The paper presents a novel case highlighting the use of point-of-care ultrasound for diagnosing ischemic colitis in the ED.

## Key findings

- POCUS identified ischemic colitis in a patient during two separate ED visits.
- POCUS can lead to prompt treatment with antibiotics and further diagnostic steps.
- This case demonstrates the potential of POCUS as an early diagnostic tool for ischemic colitis.

## Abstract

Ischemic colitis is the most common form of gastrointestinal ischemia 1. The diagnosis of ischemic colitis is made by clinical data and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis 1. While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, this is not performed in the emergency department (ED) 2. Few studies have been performed to describe the sonographic findings of ischemic colitis using point of care ultrasound (POCUS). We report a case that highlights the sonographic findings of ischemic colitis in a patient who had two separate visits to the ED, showcasing the utility of POCUS in making this diagnosis. POCUS can be used as a diagnostic tool for early detection of ischemic colitis leading to prompt treatment with antibiotics, CT imaging, and surgical consultation.