A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in Annals of Emergency Medicine provides compelling evidence supporting the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by emergency physicians in diagnosing acute cholecystitis—a condition responsible for up to 9% of hospital admissions for acute abdominal pain.
The study, conducted by Wilson et al., analyzed data from 10 studies involving 2,356 patients, evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of emergency physician-performed POCUS against final diagnoses determined by surgical pathology, discharge notes, and radiology-performed ultrasound.
The key findings include:
These results indicate that while the sensitivity of POCUS is moderate, its high specificity makes it particularly useful for ruling in a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in the emergency department. In other words, when emergency physicians identify findings consistent with cholecystitis—such as gallbladder wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, or a sonographic Murphy’s sign—there is strong diagnostic value in acting on those findings promptly.
The implications for clinical practice are significant. Early identification of acute cholecystitis can lead to expedited surgical consultation and management, potentially reducing complications and improving patient outcomes. As the demand for rapid, bedside diagnostic tools continues to grow in emergency medicine, studies like this reinforce the value of POCUS as a frontline imaging modality.
Moreover, this meta-analysis highlights the importance of POCUS proficiency among emergency physicians. With ultrasound technology becoming increasingly integral to acute care workflows, structured and standardized training is essential to ensure diagnostic accuracy and clinician confidence.
Supporting Getting Learners to POCUS Competency with SonoSim
To help clinicians and trainees build expertise in point-of-care ultrasound, SonoSim offers a comprehensive ultrasound education ecosystem. The platform includes real pathologic scanning cases and virtual scanning practice via the patented SonoSimulator®, as well as expert-guided didactics across over spanning hundreds of clinical ultrasound applications—including focused content on abdominal and hepatobiliary ultrasound.
By providing risk-free access to thousands of real ultrasound cases and incorporating guided probe positioning and real-time feedback, SonoSim supports the development of core ultrasound skills that align with the diagnostic demands highlighted in this new meta-analysis.
As evidence continues to mount in favor of POCUS in emergency settings, tools like SonoSim can play a critical role in scaling ultrasound competency across healthcare teams and academic programs.