Bowel ObstructionOCCLUSNCT04848415
Diagnostic Performance of Point of Care Ultrasound to Identify Intestinal Obstruction
An observational study of Bowel Obstruction, run by Nantes University Hospital at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
As reported in previous studies, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has good performance for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction even when compared with CT. This inexpensive, radiation-free tool is available in a majority of ED. It is performed at the patient's bedside with immediate results. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Bowel Obstruction
- What is being tested?
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 1 May 2021to 1 Sep 2022
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adult patients admitted to the ED for abdominal pain and suspicion of bowel obstruction
Who may be able to join
- Adult patients
- Abdominal pain
- Suspected bowel obstruction
Who cannot join
- Documented end-of-life precluding CT realization
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
As reported in previous studies, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has good performance for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction even when compared with CT. This inexpensive, radiation-free tool is available in a majority of ED. It is performed at the patient's bedside with immediate results. The learning curve allows Emergency Physicians (EP) to perform this exam after a relative brief training period.
The investigators aim to investigate the ability of POCUS performed before CT to exclude the diagnosis of bowel obstruction in patients admitted for abdominal pain.
Read the detailed description
Bowel obstruction (BO) is frequently suspected in the Emergency Department (ED). Computed Tomography (CT) is commonly used to diagnose this disease. However, CT is not always available in real-time, requires technician times, is associated with increased cost and exposes patients to radiations.
The researchers will investigate the diagnosis performances of POCUS for the diagnosis of BO with comparison with CT which will be considered as the gold standard. The wain objective will be the ability to exclude the diagnosis of BO, the main criteria being the negative predictive value. The secondary objectives will be the diagnosis performances (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value), duration and difficulty of POCUS
- Conditions
- Bowel Obstruction
- Being tested
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound
- Keywords
- Bowel obstruction, Computed tomography, Ultrasound
- Medical subject headings
- Intestinal Obstruction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Point-of-Care UltrasoundOther
Patients admitted to the ED with abdominal pain and suspicion of bowel obstruction : realization of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound after clinical exam by the Emergency Physician in charge as a standard of care. Beside usual findings, the investigators will search for signs of bowel obstruction: dilated and incompressible small bowel loop, back-and-forth peristalsis sign. Determination of probability of small bowel obstruction. Realization of a computed tomography in search of small bowel obstruction.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Negative predictive value of POCUS
Negative predictive value of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction compared with computed tomography result
Measured: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Secondary outcomes (3)
Positive predictive value of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
Positive predictive value
Measured: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Sensitivity of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
sensitivity of POCUS, for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction compared with computed tomography result
Measured: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Specificity of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
specificity of POCUS, for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction compared with computed tomography result
Measured: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Apr 2021
- Study start1 May 2021
- Primary completion1 May 2022
- Study completion1 Sep 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Bowel ObstructionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Nantes University HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nantes University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04848415
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- OCCLUS
- Acronym
- OCCLUS
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Feb 2021
- Last updated
- 25 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Diagnostic Performance of Point of Care Ultrasound to Identify Intestinal Obstruction
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04848415
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- OCCLUS / OCCLUS
- Conditions
- Bowel Obstruction
- Keywords
- Bowel obstruction, Computed tomography, Ultrasound
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Nantes University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Sep 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Apr 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
As reported in previous studies, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has good performance for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction even when compared with CT. This inexpensive, radiation-free tool is available in a majority of ED. It is performed at the patient's bedside with immediate results. The learning curve allows Emergency Physicians (EP) to perform this exam after a relative brief training period.
The investigators aim to investigate the ability of POCUS performed before CT to exclude the diagnosis of bowel obstruction in patients admitted for abdominal pain.
Detailed description
Bowel obstruction (BO) is frequently suspected in the Emergency Department (ED). Computed Tomography (CT) is commonly used to diagnose this disease. However, CT is not always available in real-time, requires technician times, is associated with increased cost and exposes patients to radiations.
The researchers will investigate the diagnosis performances of POCUS for the diagnosis of BO with comparison with CT which will be considered as the gold standard. The wain objective will be the ability to exclude the diagnosis of BO, the main criteria being the negative predictive value. The secondary objectives will be the diagnosis performances (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value), duration and difficulty of POCUS
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adult patients admitted to the ED for abdominal pain and suspicion of bowel obstruction
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adult patients
- Abdominal pain
- Suspected bowel obstruction
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Documented end-of-life precluding CT realization
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Point-of-Care UltrasoundPatients admitted to the ED with abdominal pain and suspicion of bowel obstruction : realization of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound after clinical exam by the Emergency Physician in charge as a standard of care. Beside usual findings, the investigators will search for signs of bowel obstruction: dilated and incompressible small bowel loop, back-and-forth peristalsis sign. Determination of probability of small bowel obstruction. Realization of a computed tomography in search of small bowel obstruction. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Negative predictive value of POCUS
Time frame: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Negative predictive value of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction compared with computed tomography result
3 secondary outcomes
Positive predictive value of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
Time frame: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Sensitivity of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
Time frame: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Specificity of POCUS for the diagnosis of bowel obstruction
Time frame: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Bowel Obstruction, run by Nantes University Hospital at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Negative predictive value of POCUS (time frame: Through ED stay, up to 24 hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jun 2026.