The Bottom Line on Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasound
Why Learn?
There is little doubt over the usefulness of abdominal ultrasound as a diagnostic tool and interventional aid in acutely unwell patient – from eFAST in the trauma patient to exclusion of hydronephrosis in AKI.
Limitations/Challenges
- Access to training/trainers and maintaining competencies.
- The potential diagnoses in abdominal ultrasound is vast with no consensus as to how best to train and the range of competencies that should be achieved.
- The potential uses of abdominal ultrasound is exciting and still evolving e.g. nasogastric tube placement.
Resources
- International expert statement on training standards for critical care ultrasonography
- 5 Min Sono – eFAST (@5minsono)
- Ultrasound Podcast – Gallbladder (@ultrasoundpod)
- Renal Ultrasound – Hydronephrosis – SonoSite, Inc (@sonosite)
- Ultrasound-guided nasogastric feeding tube placement in critical care patients.