Abd

- [Voiceover] A curved or phased array transducer
with an abdominal exam type is used to perform
a gallbladder ultrasound exam.
The gallbladder should be evaluated in two planes.
The gallbladder is not a fixed organ,
so the position can vary.
To begin the exam, place the transducer
in a long access position
with the orientation marker to the patient's head
at the right costal margin.
If it is difficult to visualize the gallbladder,
a deep inspiration will move the gallbladder below the ribs
for easier access.
It may also be useful to turn the patient
into a left lateral decubitus position,
so the gallbladder moves away from the ribs.
The gallbladder will appear
as an anechoic or hyperechoic structure
and may appear oval or in the shape of an exclamation point.
To obtain a true longitudinal view of the gallbladder,
rotate the transducer to see the entire length.
Identify the gallbladder, main lobar fissure,
and the right portal vein.
Sweep from side to side
to evaluate the gallbladder wall and lumen.
Rotate the transducer 90 degrees
with the orientation marker to the patient's right.
Sweep the transducer inferiorly
from the gallbladder to fundus
to evaluate the entire gallbladder.

Brightcove ID

5733865138001

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ydryil7kYUA

3D How To: Abdominal Aorta Exam

Read more about 3D How To: Abdominal Aorta Exam

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3D animation demonstrating an Aorta ultrasound exam.

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- [Voiceover] A curved or phased array transducer
with an abdomen exam type is used to perform
an aorta ultrasound exam.
The entire length of the aorta from
the level of the diaphragm
to the bifurcation of the iliac arteries
must be evaluated in two planes.
The examination begins with the transducer
placed transversely in the epigastric mid line,
with the marker directed to the patient's right.
The aorta is seen as a round, pulsatile structure,
anterior to the bright reflection of the vertebrae.
The vena cava is an oval structure
immediately to the left of the aorta on the screen,
which changes in caliber with compression
or deep inspiration.
The abdominal aorta will course gradually,
becoming more superficial as it progresses distally.
The transducer is slowly moved distally
to identify the celiac trunk,
renal arteries,
superior mesenteric artery,
and bifurcation to the iliac arteries.
Note the location of any change in size
of the aorta or iliac arteries,
and measure in long and short axis views
from outer wall to outer wall
to determine the true diameter.
The transducer is returned to the epigastric area
and rotated 90 degrees clockwise,
with the orientation marker to the patient's head.
The transducer is swept side to side
to identify the maximal diameter of the aorta.
The abdominal aorta will have proximal to distal taper.
The transducer is moved distally
to evaluate the walls of the aorta
for any change in the shape or size.
If the aorta is difficult to visualize
due to overlying bowel, gentle downward transducer pressure
may encourage peristalsis of the overlying bowel.
Alternatively, consider moving the patient
into a left lateral decubitus position
to re-position the bowel away from the field of view.

Brightcove ID

5508114778001

https://youtube.com/watch?v=NI-tU5w-gzg

3D How To: eFAST Pelvis

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3D animation demonstrating the pelvis view while performing an eFAST exam.

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- [Voiceover] A phased array transducer
with an abdomen exam type
is used to perform the pelvis view of the fast exam.
Place the transducer in a transverse position
with the orientation marker to the right
at the level of the symphysis pubis.
The pelvis is evaluated in two planes.
It is easier to perform this exam
when the bladder is filled.
The bladder is used as an acoustic window
to view the cul de sac
or retrovesicular space for free fluid.
To visualize the bladder,
angle the transducer inferiorly into the pelvis.
If it is difficult to visualize the bladder,
slide to the left or right of the symphysis pubis
to bring the bladder into view.
To evaluate the pelvis for free fluid,
sweep the transducer from an inferior to superior position.
Fluid will appear hyperechoic or anechoic
and accumulate posterior to the bladder,
posterior to the uterus, and between loops of bowel.
To obtain a long access view,
rotate the transducer 90 degrees
with the orientation marker
pointed toward the patient's head.
Sweep the transducer across the pelvis from left to right
to evaluate the pelvis for free fluid.

Brightcove ID

5508134284001

https://youtube.com/watch?v=pFtpx-yZfe0

Body

3D animation demonstrating the pelvis view while performing an eFAST exam.

3D How To: eFAST LUQ

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3D animation demonstrating a Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) view while performing the eFAST exam.

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- [Voiceover] A phased array transducer
with an abdomen exam type is used to perform
the left upper quadrant view of the FAST Exam.
The orientation marker is directed
toward the patient's head.
the transducer is placed in a long-access orientation
along the left-posterior axillary line
between the fifth to seventh intercostal spaces.
The sonographer's hand will touch the gurney
with the proper transducer position.
Rotation and oblique positioning of the transducer
will help eliminate rib shadows.
To evaluate the entire area of the spleenorenal recess
for free fluid, sweep the transducer
from an anterior to posterior position.
Carefully examine the spleenorenal recess
and subphrenic space.
Fluid will appear dark or anechoic.
If it is difficult to visualize the spreenorenal recess,
a deep inspiration will move the diaphragm
and other structures in this area
down and below the ribs for easier access.
Sliding the transducer in an upward direction
will visualize the diaphragm and plural interface.

Brightcove ID

5508120178001

https://youtube.com/watch?v=foyIEuUlgD0

Case: Ectopic Pregnancy - Part 2

Read more about Case: Ectopic Pregnancy - Part 2

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This video details how bedside ultrasound can help emergency medicine professionals visualize and diagnose various presentations of ectopic pregnancy, as well as differentiate between an ovarian cyst and an ectopic pregnancy.

Clinical Specialties

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Tubal Ectopic Abdominal Ectopic

Subtitles

- Hello, my name is Phil Perera
and I'm the Emergency Ultrasound Coordinator
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City
and welcome to SoundBytes Cases.
This module is ectopic pregnancy part two,
where we'll go over the multiple
ultrasound presentation of ectopic pregnancies.
Ectopic pregnancy is one of those
conditions that we'll not infrequently
encounter in a busy EM practice.
The most common presentation of
an ectopic pregnancy will be an empty uterus,
with or without free fluid within the pelvic cul de sac
or surrounding the uterus.
We may be actually able to visualize
the ectopic as a Bagel sign,
which constitutes a thickened Fallopian tube.
Other presentations of ectopics
include a complex pelvic mass
with a ring of fire on Doppler sonography,
hemosalpinx or blood within the Fallopian tube
or we may be actually able to visualize
the live ectopic in the adnexa,
with a fetal pole and/or heartbeat.
Here's a transvaginal long axis ultrasound
for a woman who presented with lower abdominal pain
and a positive pregnancy test.
Notice the uterus, as shown in the long axis view,
without an appreciable intrauterine pregnancy
and notice that it's surrounded
by a large amount of free fluid.
That dark or anechoic area surrounding
the uterus both anteriorly to the left,
posteriorly in the cul de sac to the right.
That is the presence of fresh blood.
Notice also the presence of blood clots
anteriorly or to the left, that more echogenic area.
So, given the absence of an intrauterine pregnancy,
we decided to scan out to the adnexa
and notice here, the presence of
a Bagel sign of a tubal ectopic pregnancy.
We see fresh fluid here, above the Bagel,
to the right, blood clot to the left
and the more hyperechoic
or lighter Bagel sign in the middle of the image.
Occasionally it can be difficult to discern
the Bagel sign of a Fallopian tube ectopic
from an ovarian cyst, as show here to the right.
But lets look closer at the two video clips
and notice that the Bagel sign
has a more hyperechoic or bright appearance,
with the single hole more in the middle.
Notice that the ovarian cyst has a different appearance,
with multiple small follicular cysts
to the outer portion of the ovary
and a single midline corpus luteum cyst.
Very different than the Bagel sign.
Here's another patient with an ectopic pregnancy
in a different presentation of ectopic.
We're scanning here from the more midline uterus,
as show there to the left, out to the right adnexa
and notice as we scan out to the right adnexa,
we notice the presence of a complex, pelvic mass.
Notice also the relatively low
serum B-HCG in this case, at 478.
So, a complex pelvic mass with
an absence of intrauterine pregnancy.
Very suspicious for an ectopic pregnancy.
And what's interesting is,
as we put Doppler flow on that complex pelvic mass,
we notice the presence of the ring of fire,
very suggestive of an ectopic pregnancy
and the reasons for the ring of fire
is that the ectopic pregnancy pulls
a huge amount of vascularity towards it
and using the Doppler,
we can see the separate ectopic from the ovary above it.
Here's another presentation of an ectopic pregnancy.
Again, we're scanning at a short axis plane
and we see there the uterus to the left
and outside the uterus, a separate structure.
We note here the presence of a thickened Fallopian tube
and inside the thickened Fallopian tube,
we see here a fetal pole with a heart beat,
consistent with a live ampullary ectopic pregnancy.
Unfortunately in this case,
the presence of a fetal pole with
a heart beat is a contraindication of methotrexate therapy
and this patient will need to undergo surgery.
We mentioned earlier that there are
a variance of ectopic pregnancies
that implant outside the fundal region of the uterus,
in an aberrant location.
This is a good example.
This patient actually has a bicornuate uterus
and as we scan at a short axis plane up the uterus,
we notice that the two limbs of endometrium
that make up the two distinct cornua.
As we go up the left cornua,
we notice here the presence of a cornual ectopic pregnancy
and we see the that it's located off to the side,
way out to the left cornua,
with a very thin myometrial mantle.
If we actually put the calipers down
and measure the endo-myometrial mantle,
we find it's very thin, at three millimeters,
defining an abnormal pregnancy.
A normal pregnancy should have
a myometrial mantle greater than eight millimeters.
Now this is a bicornuate uterus,
so this is a cornual pregnancy.
In a normal uterus,
this would be known as an interstitial pregnancy.
So in conclusion, I'm glad I could share with you
this module on ectopic pregnancy part two,
looking at the varied presentations of ectopic pregnancy.
Hopefully now you better understand
what we're searching for on bedside sonography
when we're working up a patient
with possible ectopic pregnancy.
While visualization of the adnexa
and the Fallopian tubes is an advanced technique,
but it is well within the scope
of a busy emergency medicine practice.
As a final caveat, ectopic pregnancies can
be seen at Beta-HCG levels ranging from very low,
less than 100, to very high, above 20,000
and thus we cannot use a Single Beta-HCG
level to rule out ectopic pregnancy.
It's really better to look at trends
in the hormone level over time.
With an intrauterine pregnancy,
the levels should double in 48 hours,
whereas in most ectopic pregnancy,
it will not climb to the same degree.
So, I hope that now you have a
better understanding of how to
work up the pregnant patient with
a possible ectopic pregnancy.

Brightcove ID

5750496732001

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ANhOwzbKe6Y