FLUS may be performed with practically any ultrasound system with 2-dimensional (2D) scanning capability
Get to know your ultrasound machine, so you are familiar with the use and functions of the most commonly used buttons and presets
FLUS may be performed with practically any ultrasound system with 2-dimensional (2D) scanning capability
Get to know your ultrasound machine, so you are familiar with the use and functions of the most commonly used buttons and presets
This includes:
Equipment – Ultrasound system:
– Ultrasound machine
– Transducer selection
– Preset selection
– Orientation marker (OM) presentation on screen (Left/Right)
Skills:
– Placement of the transducer, and finding the right windows
– Optimisation of the ultrasound image by changing depth, gain and focus
– Identify structures, and looking for pathology
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Understanding and performing basic lung ultrasound requires knowledge about:
– How to prepare the ultrasound system
– How the lung, pleura and chest wall structures appear on the ultrasound screen in 2D and M-mode mode
– The basic sonographic signs and artefacts used in lung ultrasound
– How to perform a basic lung examination using scanning zones
– How to identify or rule out pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and interstitial syndrome
– How to use lung ultrasound as an integrated part of goal directed patient assessment
This e-course describes the clinical application of focused LUS (FLUS) in the evaluation of the critical care patient with respiratory problems
The course describes the use of ultrasound to include or exclude the presence of:
– Pneumothorax
– Pleural effusion
– Interstitial syndrome
Focused LUS should be an integrated part of goal directed patient assessment
The terms point-of-care and focused ultrasonography are often used in medical literature
Point-of-care ultrasonography can been defined as ultrasonography brought to the patient and performed by the provider in real time
Often the term focused ultrasound is used in the same context; it can be defined as ultrasonography performed in a focused manner in order to answer specific and clinically relevant yes/no questions
LUS is among the most innovative ultrasound applications
The latest developments in LUS are based on the interpretation of a few signs (mostly artefacts) rather than on technological advances
It is especially interesting for intensivists, emergency medicine physicians, respiratory physicians, pulmonologists, anesthesiologists, and radiologists
We call the use of lung ultrasound in emergency and critical care patient care “Focused Lung Ultrasound” (FLUS)
LUS can be used in a broad range of clinical settings: as a diagnostic tool, for procedure guidance, and for monitoring
Examples of some of the conditions in which LUS can be used to diagnose and monitor:
– Pneumothorax
– Pleural effusion
– Interstitial syndrome
– Alveolar consolidation (pneumonia and pulmonary embolism)*
– Atelectasis*
– Pulmonary contusion*
Examples of LUS guided procedures:
– Guidance in pleural drainage*
– Intubation guidance*
* Not covered in this focused LUS module
In recent years, lung ultrasound has become popular as a clinical point-of-care tool in a variety of settings
The application of ultrasound for lung diagnostics has been considered impossible due to the air content of the normal aerated, as opposed to the sonographic examination of e.g. muscular and subcutaneous tissue not containing air
Deeply situated and aerated chest structures covered by bone can easily be examined with conventional ionising techniques like conventional X-ray and computed tomography (CT)
This accessibility of alternative techniques has been an obstacle to the development of lung ultrasound