Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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With the growing use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in various clinical settings, it is essential for users of ultrasound to have a thorough understanding of the basics of ultrasound physics, including sound wave properties, its interaction with various tissues, common artifacts, and knobology. The authors introduce and discuss these concepts in this article, with a focus on clinical implications.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewGastrointestinal and Biliary Point-of-Care Ultrasound.
Point-of-care ultrasound has been shown to have excellent diagnostic accuracy for a variety of gastrointestinal and biliary pathologies. This review explores the evidence and scanning techniques for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, intussusception, appendicitis, small bowel obstruction, diverticulitis, hernias, pneumoperitoneum, and biliary pathology.
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Point-of-care ultrasound may be used to assist in the diagnosis of skin, soft tissue, and musculoskeletal concerns in the emergency department. Frequently, linear or curvilinear probes are used to perform these studies and ultrasound may be used to assist in common emergency department procedures related to these conditions.
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Point-of-care ultrasound may be used to assist in the diagnosis of ocular complaints in the emergency department. With the use of a linear probe, the emergency physician can view anterior and posterior chamber structures of the patient's eye and evaluate for signs of pathology.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewCardiac Point-Of-Care Ultrasound: An Emergency Medicine Review.
Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can make critical diagnoses and monitor the response to interventions. In contrast with consultative echocardiography, cardiac POCUS serves to answer a specific clinical question. This imaging modality can be used to evaluate for left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion and tamponade, acute and chronic right ventricular dysfunction, valvular dysfunction, and cardiac activity in cardiac arrest.