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

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

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

Debate between short and long axis for ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein cannulation. Prospective trial aims to settle the issue. Two-person technique for stability. Study compares outcomes and complications. Practical considerations for each approach discussed. Potential benefits of long axis approach.

Acute aortic syndromes such as aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, penetrating ulcer are tricky. No one wants to miss these deadly diseases, but we also don't want to test everyone who has the slightest sign of this wily diagnosis. Point of care ultrasound can detect signs of aortic pathologies, but there haven't been any good studies to determine if this is accurate or safe....until now. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/84 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31226214

Back with more blocks in Part 2. Mike and Mike continue to explore, discuss, and laugh about the evidence for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia for acute pain management. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/83

Everyone who has ever done one knows that ultrasound guided blocks are great. They seem to help patients, they are fun to do, but are they supported by the evidence? Mike Stone joins in on this two part, special edition dive into the studies out there for performing ultrasound guided regional anesthesia for acute pain. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/82

Speckle tracking is a relatively new ultrasound technology that lets you graph the movement of tissue over time. We know this can be useful to look at cardiac function, but no one dared to try it out on the lung...until now! The idea here is that by using speckle tracking on the pleural line, there might be a higher accuracy in detecting pneumothorax on ultrasound! It sounds crazy...but maybe it's just crazy enough to work. https://www.ultrasoundgel.org/81 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31359081

A focused echo can go a long way in a patient with a suspected pulmonary embolus (PE). It can be especially valuable in those that are so sick and unstable that you need answers right away. In this way, point-of-care echo has been shown to help to diagnose submassive and massive pulmonary emboli by identifying signs of right heart strain. Echo parameters such as right ventricle diameter and right ventricular function (such as in TAPSE) are often part of the evaluation, but these are not as accurate as we would like. These authors propose a new doppler marker of a submassive or massive PE- enter the Early Systolic Notching pattern. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31056367

Suspected acute heart failure is a great reason to use point-of-care ultrasound. It can tell you in seconds if this patient is up to their neck in pulmonary edema. Knowing that interstitial edema is more common in dependent areas of the lung, one would think that the lateral areas of the lung fields would be most sensitive for the diagnosis. Likewise, if there is enough pulmonary edema to fill up the anterior lung fields, this theoretically should be pretty specific. But is this actually true?! These authors investigate the issue. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30665807