Point-of-Care Ultrasound to Locate Retained Intravenous Drug Needle in the Femoral Artery

Abstract

We describe the use of point-of-care ultrasound to localize a retained intravenous drug needle, and subsequent surgical removal without computed tomography.

Exploring the uncommon: Unusual instance of retained fractured needles in a patient of intravenous drugs abuse

“…For superficial soft tissues, ultrasonography is well established in identifying radiolucent foreign bodies, and has comparable efficacy to CT in identifying radiopaque foreign bodies, while being timelier and more cost-effective. One recent case demonstrated the clinical use of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound in identifying a retained needle that penetrated through a patient's left superficial and deep femoral arteries [9] . The patient was taken directly from the emergency department to the operating room and the needle was removed with no complications.…”

Cephalic Vein Intravascular Foreign Body After a Penetrating Injury

“…Ultrasound has been shown to detect almost all foreign bodies, regardless of composition, with a sensitivity as high as 94% to 98% even with objects as small as 2.5 mm 12,13 . Although the utilization of ultrasound in localizing an intravascular foreign body is rare, it has been reported by Primi et al to localize a needle within the femoral artery 14 .…”

Radiological features and management of retained needles

“…Regarding US, a possible application could be the needle search in the superficial soft tissue as described by Blake Primi. 15 In our experience (Figure 2), sonographic identification of a needle into the gastric wall was made possible by the lack of depth from the skin plane. It is our opinion to use ultrasound in paediatric subjects in order to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation.…”