The SHARP Exam: A Standardized POCUS Approach to Undifferentiated Acute Right Lower Quadrant Abdominal Pain in Young Women.

Acute right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain is a common presenting complaint in emergency departments among young women. The SHARP Exam is a novel point of care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol designed to aid in the evaluation of undifferentiated, acute, right-sided, lower abdominal pain in women of child-bearing age. The SHARP Exam is both an acronym ([S]ono [H]er [A]bdomen for [R]ight-sided [P]ain) and a diagnostic tool for emergency physicians to focus on specific pathology ([S]ize of ovary, [H]ydronephrosis, [A]ppendicitis, [R]ight upper quadrant free fluid, [P]regnancy). It is an easily reproducible, cost-effective, and non-invasive study that may expedite risk stratification, diagnosis, and treatment of several emergent conditions.