Australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine
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Australas J Ultrasound Med · Nov 2012
ReviewThe role of ultrasound in percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.
Background: The use of ultrasound to evaluate cervical anatomy and to guide tracheal puncture in real-time has been advocated to improve safety and efficacy of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in intensive care. Objective: To review the potential role, attributed theoretical benefits and supporting literature for ultrasound during PDT. ⋯ Recognition of unconventional vascular anatomy enables selection of an appropriate alternative puncture site or an elective open surgical approach. Conclusion: Current literature supports that using ultrasound for percutaneous tracheostomy is quick, safe, reliable and offers a plausible advantage over the traditional landmark guided procedure, especially in select patient groups, such as those who are morbidly obese or have difficult to palpate cervical anatomy.
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Australas J Ultrasound Med · May 2012
Creating thoracic phantoms for diagnostic and procedural ultrasound training.
The use of pleural and lung ultrasound is being performed increasingly by respiratory and critical care clinicians around the world. This article describes how to create cheap and reliable lung and pleural phantoms for teaching. The phantoms described replicate the appearance of normal ventilating lung, pneumothorax (including the contact or lung point), pulmonary oedema, pleural effusion and empyema. The pleural effusion phantom can be used to teach procedural ultrasound (pleurocentesis).