POCUS in COVID-19
Early Reports of Lung Findings
By Michael Prats on 03/17/20 05:00 AM
COVID-19 is here, there, and everywhere. Mike Mallin joins in to examine the first published reports on POCUS being used on the front lines. We discuss the sonographic findings and potential uses during this pandemic. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/88
A POCUS Protocol for Renal Colic
Saving Time and $$$ (but not CTs)
By Michael Prats on 03/02/20 05:00 AM
We know that point of care ultrasound can be used to find evidence of urinary obstruction in patients with renal colic from a kidney stone. However, it is not clear how to put this into practice. Who should get an ultrasound? Who needs further testing after ultrasound? This article poses one protocol to see if it can help save time and money in the emergency department. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/87 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31661942
Focused Echo for Pulmonary Embolism in Patients with Abnormal Vital Signs
Let's Try to Be a Little More Sensitive
By Michael Prats on 02/17/20 05:00 AM
A focused cardiac ultrasound is commonly used in the evaluation of patients with possible pulmonary embolism (PE). Based on the literature to date, we know that this can be helpful for ruling in signs of right heart strain. On the other hand, so far, this focused exam has not been that helpful in ruling out PE. These authors try to fix that by optimizing the sensitivity of the exam in a population with abnormal vital signs. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/86 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31562679