POCUS Ultrasound

BACKGROUND: Cardiac point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has shown increasing utility as a tool for diagnosing and managing heart failure (HF). Within cardiology, intravascular volume assessment leveraging visualization of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a central aspect of care, as IVC size correlates with central venous pressure. This targeted literature review aimed to examine the existing literature assessing the use of POCUS in diagnosis and management of HF patients utilizing POCUS-based IVC measurement either alone or in combination with secondary methods...

Gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess (GFLPA) carries a high mortality rate. Early identification of the source of infection in sepsis results in better survival. Bedside point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can be used to help localize a source of infection. A 59-year-old man presented with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and was diagnosed with GFLPA on the initial encounter via clinical assessment and POCUS examination. After commencing antibiotics, optimal glucose control, adequate fluid resuscitation, and early infective source control, he achieved full recovery and was followed up in outpatient medical and surgical clinics...

Ischemic colitis is the most common form of gastrointestinal ischemia 1. The diagnosis of ischemic colitis is made by clinical data and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis 1. While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, this is not performed in the emergency department (ED) 2. Few studies have been performed to describe the sonographic findings of ischemic colitis using point of care ultrasound (POCUS). We report a case that highlights the sonographic findings of ischemic colitis in a patient who had two separate visits to the ED, showcasing the utility of POCUS in making this diagnosis...

Using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to evaluate patients with syncope in the emergency department facilitates the timely diagnosis of life-threatening pathologies. Case: A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department of a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, for a syncopal episode. Vital signs, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and routine laboratory tests were normal. Cardiac POCUS was performed, which identified an echogenic mass located in the left atrium, measuring 35x28mm, which in left atrial systole appeared to occupy the entire chamber...

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful modality to initially identify a molar pregnancy. In this case, we describe a 51-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with vaginal bleeding. A transvaginal POCUS was performed, revealing findings concerning for a molar pregnancy. These findings led to prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The tissue diagnosis and staging of all types of lung cancer is foundational for prognosis and establishing the optimal treatment plan. In order to appropriately stage lung cancer, the highest stage should be established using the 8th edition TNM criteria, where tumor size (T), nodal involvement (N), and metastasis (M) are all taken into account. Establishing a tissue diagnosis may involve the use of CT guided biopsy, navigational bronchoscopy, endobronchial biopsy, EBUS, percutaneous lymph node biopsy and/or excisional biopsy of supraclavicular nodes...

Larva migrans is a cutaneous parasitic infection that occurs when an immature hookworm larva inadvertently penetrates the dermis of a human, typically on the extremities. Traditionally, a clinical diagnosis is made when a tortuous/serpiginous eruption is seen superficially in the skin with complaints of intense pruritus. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful diagnostic tool for soft tissue complaints in the emergency department (ED). We describe a case of an 18-year-old woman who presented to the ED with foot pruritis four days after walking on the beach barefoot...

(1) Background : Swallowing is a complex process that comprises well-timed control of oropharyngeal and laryngeal structures to achieve airway protection and swallowing efficiency. To understand its temporality, previous research adopted adherence measures and revealed obligatory pairs in healthy swallows and the effect of aging and bolus type on the variability of event timing and order. This study aimed to (i) propose a systemic conceptualization of swallowing physiology, (ii) apply sequence analyses, a set of information-theoretic and bioinformatic methods, to quantify and characterize swallowing temporality, and (iii) investigate the effect of aging and dysphagia on the quantified variables using sequence analyses measures...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

A 63-year-old male with an unremarkable medical history presented to the emergency room (ER) with shortness of breath and bilateral lower extremity edema. In the ER, he was found to be hypoxic and hypercapnic on an arterial blood gas. CT angiography of the chest revealed severe emphysematous changes and large right apical bullae. A bedside point-of-care ultrasound demonstrated many bilateral B-lines as well as normal ejection fraction (EF). An echocardiogram revealed a small left ventricular cavity with an EF of 65%, severely dilated right ventricle, severe right ventricular dysfunction, "D" shaped interventricular septum, severely dilated right atrium, and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with a calculated pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 72 mmHg...

PURPOSE: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has gained prominence in a variety of medical specialties due to advances in ultrasound technology. POCUS has not been fully integrated into pediatric residency training programs despite its widespread use and proven benefits. At our institution, renal POCUS is performed by pediatric residents for the evaluation of hydronephrosis, which is the main pathology for which ultrasound is used in the clinical practice of pediatric nephrology. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of renal POCUS performed by pediatric residents in infants...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the performance of the abdominal handheld point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) Butterfly-iQ to gold standard transvaginal ultrasonography (US) in identifying the position of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in the hands of a medical doctor specialised in ultrasonography. METHODS: In this diagnostic accuracy study, a single operator conducted abdominal POCUS followed by conventional transvaginal US. Seventy patients utilising copper or hormonal IUDs were assessed between June 2021 and October 2022...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming increasingly crucial in the Pediatric Emergency Department for objective patient examination. However, despite its growing interest and wide-ranging applications, POCUS remains relatively unexplored in general pediatric training and education. Many physicians still find it challenging to comprehend and implement. METHODS: A theoretical-practical POCUS course for pediatric residents was conducted at the University of Catania, Italy...

Renal lymphangiectasia, a rare entity of the renal lymphatic system affecting both genders and all ages, can manifest bilaterally or unilaterally and has been referred to by various terms, such as renal lymphangiomatosis, renal lymphangioma, and others. Distinguishing this condition from common pathologies, such as polycystic kidney disease or hydronephrosis, is crucial. This article presents an innovative clinical case of unilateral renal lymphangiectasia in a 67-year-old woman with a relevant medical history...

Introduction A computed tomography (CT) scan and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) are commonly employed for diagnosing small bowel obstructions (SBOs). Prior studies demonstrated that POCUS has 90-95% sensitivity and specificity compared with CT scanning, which is the gold standard. Unlike other imaging modalities (in which the ordering and performing clinician are not the same), POCUS-performing/interpreting sonologists must recognize the risk of confirmation bias in the POCUS application. Per Bayesian analysis, the likelihood of a diagnosis being true following a diagnostic test is based on the ordering clinician's pre-test probability and the test characteristics (sensitivity and specificity, from which positive and negative likelihood ratios can be calculated)...

INTRODUCTION: Although the use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has many advantages, misplacement can lead to serious life-threatening complications such as pericardial effusion (PCE) and cardiac tamponade (CT). This report aims to describe four cases of CT resulting from misplaced PICC, which were successfully managed. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of neonates who required PICC insertion and had PCE leading to CT in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at The Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during the year 2022...

OBJECTIVES: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbations present with similar history and physical examination findings. This complicates both the diagnostic process and the creation of appropriate treatment plans for patients presenting in respiratory distress, particularly in the prehospital setting. Thoracic point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) may increase diagnostic accuracy; however, its potential to improve patient management by emergency medical services clinicians is unknown...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a double-check protocol using Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the management of patients diagnosed with Acute Heart Failure in an Emergency Department. METHOD: Prospective analytical cross-sectional observational study with patients diagnosed with Acute Heart Failure by the outgoing medical team, who undergo multi-organ ultrasound evaluation including cardiac, pulmonary, and inferior vena cava ultrasound. RESULTS: 96 patients were included...

PURPOSE: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) allows for rapid bedside assessment and guidance of patient care. Recently, POCUS was included as a mandatory component of Canadian anesthesiology training; however, there is no national consensus regarding the competencies to guide curriculum development. We therefore aimed to define national residency competencies for basic perioperative POCUS proficiency. METHODS: We adopted a Delphi process to delineate relevant POCUS competencies whereby we circulated an online survey to academic anesthesiologists identified as POCUS leads/experts (n = 25) at all 17 Canadian anesthesiology residency programs...