Welcome to UCSD Ultrasound
Recent Posts
Case #23: Diastolic Dysfunction
A 79 year old female presented to the emergency room with worsening dyspnea on exertion. She reported orthopnea, leg swelling, and only being able to walk a few steps without getting short of breath. She denied chest pain, fever, or productive cough, and she had been compliant with her medications. Of note...
Inferior vena cava collapsibility detects fluid responsiveness among spontaneously breathing critically-ill patients
Background
Fluid responsiveness is key in guiding the resuscitation of critically ill patients, and both under and over resuscitation can lead to poor clinical outcomes. Vitals and physical exam are not always reliable in determining fluid responsiveness. The search for a quick, easy and accurate diagnostic test to det...
Case # 22: Checking in on Big Red
A 72 year old male with known abdominal aortic aneurysm (5.7 cm s/p fem-tib bypass, L AKA) presents for 3 weeks with diarrhea and mild LLQ pain. No nausea, vomiting, fever, back pain, urinary symptoms, or blood in stool. He has no localizing abdominal exam & no peritoneal signs, strong even radial pulses, an...
Caudal Edge of the Liver in the Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) View Is the Most Sensitive Area for Free Fluid on the FAST Exam
Background
The FAST exam is a useful tool in screening for the presence of intraperitoneal free fluid in the setting of trauma. The utilization of ultrasound provides rapid imaging in the trauma bay that can help guide clinical decision making and the necessity for surgical intervention. The FAST exam is comprised of s...
The Relationship Between Fluid Accumulation in Ultrasonography and Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patients with Necrotizing Fasciitis
Background
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is rapidly progressing, severe soft tissue infection with a mortality rate of 19.3% with treatment and significantly higher without treatment (1). Early diagnosis is essential to prompt surgical intervention and reduce morbidity and mortality. However, treatment can often be delaye...
Bedside Ultrasound Identification of Infectious Flexor Tenosynovitis in the Emergency Department
Background
Infectious flexor tenosynovitis (FTS) is a surgical emergency. If not treated promptly, infectious FTS carries significant morbidity including loss of function of fingers, necrosis of the tendon, and even digit amputation (1).
Infection can be caused in three ways: direct inoculation, contiguous spread, or h...
Rapid Fire Ultrasound: Abdominal Wall Abscess
Dr. Brodak performs a bedside ultrasound of a soft tissue infection and rapidly identifies a large abdominal wall abscess.
Case # 21: A 28 Year Old With Shortness of Breath
A previously healthy 28-year-old male presents to the Emergency Department complaining of one month of fatigue, shortness of breath, and dyspnea on exertion. These symptoms were preceded by symptoms of a viral illness which initially improved; however, he had recurrence of symptoms two weeks ago. He was seen at ...