Critical care clinics
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Critical care clinics · Apr 2014
ReviewBedside Ultrasonography for Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies.
There has been an increase in the availability and use of bedside ultrasonography in the acute care setting. The approach to the female patient with a pelvic complaint (including pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, or vaginal discharge) has been transformed by the use of bedside ultrasonography. Providers familiar with the transabdominal and transvaginal (endocavitary) ultrasonographic examination can obtain more accurate information faster, thereby improving time to consultation or discharge and achieving an increase in patient satisfaction. This article reviews the use of ultrasonography for evaluation of obstetric and gynecologic complaints in the acute care setting.
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Bedside sonography for the evaluation of soft tissue and musculoskeletal conditions has become indispensible for physicians caring for patients in critical, emergency, and urgent care settings. This article reviews indications, techniques, and imaging appearances of common conditions encountered in clinical practice.
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Focused cardiac echocardiography has become a critical diagnostic tool for the emergency physician and critical care physician caring for patients in shock and following trauma to the chest, and those presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath,. Cardiac echocardiography allows for immediate diagnosis of pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade, evaluation of cardiac contractility and volume status, and detection of right ventricular strain possibly seen with a significant pulmonary embolus. This article addresses how to perform cardiac echocardiography using the standard windows, how to interpret a focused goal-directed examination, and how to apply this information clinically at the bedside.
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Critical care clinics · Jan 2014
Review Case ReportsThe FAST and E-FAST in 2013: Trauma Ultrasonography: Overview, Practical Techniques, Controversies, and New Frontiers.
This article reviews important literature on the FAST and E-FAST examinations in adults. It also reviews key pitfalls, limitations, and controversies. A practical "how-to" guide is presented. Lastly, new frontiers are explored.
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Thoracic ultrasonography (US) has proved to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of the patient with shortness of breath, chest pain, hypoxia, or after chest trauma. Its sensitivity and specificity for detecting disease is higher than that of a chest radiograph, and it can expedite the diagnosis for many emergent conditions. This article describes the technique of each thoracic US application, illustrating both normal and abnormal findings, as well as discussing the literature. Bedside thoracic US has defined imaging benefits in a wide range of thoracic disease, and US guidance has been shown to facilitate thoracic and airway procedures.