Quick ultrasound may spot bowel blockages without radiation
NCT ID NCT04848415
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a bedside ultrasound (POCUS) can accurately detect or rule out bowel obstruction in 150 adults with abdominal pain. Doctors performed the ultrasound after a physical exam, then compared results to a CT scan. The goal is to see if this quick, radiation-free tool can reliably diagnose bowel blockages in the emergency room.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help emergency doctors quickly rule out bowel obstruction without radiation or a CT scan.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study (150 people) comparing ultrasound to CT. Ultrasound may miss some cases, and results depend on the doctor's skill.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
-
150 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
May 2021
- Finished
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Sep 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Adult patients admitted to the ED for abdominal pain and suspicion of bowel obstruction
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria : * Adult patients * Abdominal pain * Suspected bowel obstruction Exclusion Criteria : \- Documented end-of-life precluding CT realization
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
CHU de Nantes
Nantes, 44093, France
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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