Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Fundamentals
- PART I DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND
- 2 Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
- 3 Echocardiography
- 4 First Trimester Ultrasound
- 5 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- 6 Renal and Bladder
- 7 Gallbladder
- 8 Deep Vein Thrombosis
- 9 Chest Ultrasound
- 10 Ocular Ultrasound
- 11 Fractures
- PART II PROCEDURAL ULTRASOUND
- Index
- References
3 - Echocardiography
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1 Fundamentals
- PART I DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND
- 2 Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST)
- 3 Echocardiography
- 4 First Trimester Ultrasound
- 5 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- 6 Renal and Bladder
- 7 Gallbladder
- 8 Deep Vein Thrombosis
- 9 Chest Ultrasound
- 10 Ocular Ultrasound
- 11 Fractures
- PART II PROCEDURAL ULTRASOUND
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
One of the most exciting applications for bedside ultrasound is echocardiography. Differentiating between pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole in patients with no pulse, identifying pericardial effusions in hypotensive patients, and estimating volume status or global cardiac function in hypotensive patients are all applications for bedside echocardiography that can make a difference in patient treatment and outcome. However, it is important to note that this manual is not meant to teach a noncardiologist to be an echocardiographer. Bedside echocardiography is a tool to be used by clinical practitioners who need quick answers to specific questions about cardiac function in critically ill patients. Any good physician must recognize the limitations of his or her knowledge and skill; in cases where ambiguity remains after bedside ultrasonography, follow-up testing should be consistent with normal practice patterns (1).
This chapter also reviews how to make estimations of global cardiac function and how to perform estimations of volume status by evaluating inferior vena cava (IVC) respiratory variation and collapse. Finally, images of a dilated right ventricle are reviewed so that in appropriate clinical settings, support for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolus can be made.
Echocardiography is essential in looking for wall motion abnormalities in ischemic heart disease and in evaluating valvular cardiac disease, but these applications can be complicated and require more extensive training. Again, knowing the limitations of bedside ultrasonography is essential for practicing safely.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Manual of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound , pp. 53 - 84Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007
References
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