The Evidence Atlas
From the makers of the POCUS Atlas
By Michael Prats, MD on 08/06/18 06:00 AM
The POCUS Atlas is a beautiful resource. You may be familiar with the Image Atlas, a crowd-sourced compendium of sonographic pathology created to help others learn point of care ultrasound. These same talented creators have recently unleashed the Evidence Atlas - another entirely free resource that summarizes much of the best evidence in POCUS. In this special edition interview, we talk with Matthew Riscinti, co-founder of the POCUS Atlas, about how this all came to be. We even do a quick review of one of the Evidence Atlas articles!
Chest Pain in the Emergency Department
Really Focused or Hocus POCUS?
By Michael Prats, MD on 06/18/18 06:00 AM
This seems like a good idea. Chest pain is common. Ultrasound can see many causes of chest pain. Sooooo lets use ultrasound in patients with chest pain to help with decision making. Well, wipe the smile from your face validity because it is not that simple. This article takes an interesting approach in performing a rather complex "focused" echo in the emergency department and uses it to determine the patient's disposition. The main goal was to see how accurate this method could be. Let's see how this pans out.
POCUS for Appendicitis in Moderate to High Pre-test Probability
Can you be more specific?
By Michael Prats, MD on 06/04/18 06:00 AM
Point of care ultrasound for appendicitis has a long and checkered past. It is well-established as first line in the pediatric population, but less accepted in adults. Some studies show that is great, other studies show that it is about as useful as an air conditioner in Antarctica. This article hits on the idea that perhaps we should risk stratify our patients and focus on ruling in the disease in those that are more likely to have it. Sound intriguing? Check it out.