A novel use of ultrasound in pulseless electrical activity: The diagnosis of an acute abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture

We report a case of a patient who presented to the Emergency Department wit h pulseless electrical activity. A rapid diagnosis of ruptured abdominal ao rtic aneurysm was made by Emergency Medicine bedside ultrasonography. On ar rival, the patient was without palpable pulses and bradycardic. Therapy wit h epinephrine, fluids, and atropine was initiated. A bedside ultrasound was immediately performed and revealed coordinated cardiac motion with empty v entricles. A rapid search for signs of blood loss in the abdomen revealed a large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Pulses were restored with fluid, blood, a nd epinephrine and surgical intervention was begun within 30 min of patient arrival. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.