Two rabbits in a snow storm

Todd Fraser on 11-03-2011

Recently I've added a data interpretation question on a topic it turns out I know little about. Lung ultrasonography has been around for years, but a bit like cardiac echo, its taken a little while for some of us to catch on. A number of recent papers have suggested clinical utility for lung ultrasound - with uses including an ability to exclude a pneumothorax and detection of septal oedema. So a bit like ink blots, the more I look at them the more I'm beginning to see. I'm interested - has this become a routine for any of you in your place of work?

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Matthew Keys wrote 04-05-2011 09:54:51 pm
I use lung ultrasonography to quickly assess for pneumothroax in a patient with sudden deterioration in whom one is suspected. It is quicker than waiting for an Xray....

Todd Fraser wrote 04-06-2011 12:00:22 pm
I wonder what the training process should be. I have little experience and often would not change my management based on my findings.

With critical care echocardiography establishing itself in practice, efforts have been made to standardise an approach to training and accreditation. Is this something that needs to be applied to lung ultrasound as well?

Todd Fraser wrote 04-18-2011 03:35:48 pm
Another application for ultrasound was reported in the literature recently - scanning the stomach to see how much fluid is in there before intubation. About 20% of emergency intubations had significant fluid accumulation, averaging over 500ml. While it is early work, this is a fascinating idea.

Given cricoid pressure has skeleton evidence at best to support it, and may worsen intubating conditions, is it possible that this technique can define who needs cricoid pressure and who does not?

Jo Butler wrote 07-29-2011 12:51:05 pm
I have no idea how to do this - can someone suggest a good course to do to learn this? It certainly sounds like a valuable tool.