patients frequently present to the ER with non-specific abdominal pain complaints and one of the elements on our differential diagnosis is often a small bowel obstruction x-ray fares very poorly in this domain where ultrasound really excels in trying to change your pre-test probability of a bowel obstruction my bowel obstruction protocol is quite simple I'll start here in the right lower quadrant in the transverse and from here I'm just going to slide the transducer up into the right upper quadrant come across over to the left and basically repeat the same Motion in reverse all the while I'm looking for any fluid filled Loops of bowel or signs of decreased peristalsis lastly make sure to check the paracolic gutters as sometimes fluid field Loops of bowel can hang out down here and with with that quick scan I can promptly change my pre-test probability of whether or not a bowel obstruction is present
