Journal of ultrasound
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Journal of ultrasound · Dec 2019
Extended-FAST plus MDCT in pneumothorax diagnosis of major trauma: time to revisit ATLS imaging approach?
Pneumothorax (PNX) detection is of the utmost clinical relevance because it may quickly progress to cause hemodynamic instability as a consequence of invasive ventilation. Radiography is characterized by a low sensitivity to detect this disease; in recent years, chest ultrasound (US) has gained increased visibility in the diagnosis of acute respiratory emergencies including PNX. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical impact of extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (E-FAST) during the past 6 years of experience with this technique in our Level I trauma center. ⋯ The novelty of this research lies in the possibility of diagnosing potential life-threatening conditions in a very short time by means of US, thus proposing a revision of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines in order to incorporate it in the work-up of high-energy injured patients.
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Ultrasound examination of the thorax (TUS) can be quite suitable for children because their unique thoracic anatomy provides many acoustic windows into the chest. This review article covers techniques, indications, and applications of TUS in neonates, infants, and children, including common aspects and applications, like pulmonary consolidation and atelectasis, pleural effusion and pneumothorax and main neonatal pathologies such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and transitory tachypnea of the newborn (TTN).
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Journal of ultrasound · Jun 2019
Comparative StudyUltrasound-guided selective nerve root block versus fluoroscopy-guided interlaminar epidural block for the treatment of radicular pain in the lower cervical spine: a retrospective comparative study.
Recent studies have compared the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the procedure using ultrasound and fluoroscopy. However, there are no published studies comparing the therapeutic efficacy and safety of fluoroscopy (FL)-guided cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (CIESI) with that of ultrasound (US)-guided selective nerve root block (SNRB). This study aimed to compare the mid-term effects and advantages of US-guided SNRB with FL-guided CIESI for radicular pain in the lower cervical spine through assessment of pain relief and functional improvement. ⋯ Our results suggest that, compared with FL-guided CIESI, US-guided SNRB requires a shorter administration duration while providing similar pain relief and functional improvements.
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Journal of ultrasound · Sep 2018
Meta AnalysisLung ultrasound in diagnosing pneumonia in childhood: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Pneumonia is the third leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age worldwide. In pediatrics, both the accuracy and safety of diagnostic tools are important. Lung ultrasound (LUS) could be a safe diagnostic tool for this reason. We searched in the literature for diagnostic studies about LUS to predict pneumonia in pediatric patients using systematic review and meta-analysis. ⋯ LUS seems to be a promise tool for diagnosing pneumonia in children. However, the high heterogeneity found across the individual studies, and the absence of a reliable reference standard, make the finding questionable. More methodologically rigorous studies are needed.
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Journal of ultrasound · Jun 2015
Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) telemedicine project in rural Nicaragua and its impact on patient management.
Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful diagnostic tool in medicine. POCUS provides an easy and reproducible method of diagnosis where conventional radiologic studies are unavailable. Telemedicine is also a great means of communication between educators and students throughout the world. ⋯ Implementing POCUS in rural Nicaragua led to a change in management in about half of the patients examined. With the appropriate training of clinicians, POCUS combined with telemedicine can positively impact patient care.