POCUS in early pregnancy by emergency clinicians

During the first trimester, a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) examination can be performed to confirm, document, rule out or evaluate evidence of intrauterine pregnancy and cardiac activity. An early POCUS may also identify free fluid in the abdomen. If a live, intrauterine pregnancy is confirmed, it can be reassuring to the patient and staff. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of POCU to assess patients presenting to the ED in the first trimester of their pregnancy. This will be a retrospective cohort study including all patients who are in the first trimester of their pregnancy and present to The Alfred and Sandringham Hospitals. An explicit chart review will be performed to assess: 1. Demographics and presenting complaints 2. Use of POCUS 3. Characteristics of clinicians performing POCUS 4. POCUS findings 5. Comparison with formal US 6. Association of POCUS with patient disposition