6- Pleural ultrasound

Question 1

What can you see on pleural ultrasound

Answer 1

on ultrasound can only see the surface of the lung in normal animals - visceral and parietal pleura
use artefacts to help us decide if the surface is normal

Question 2

What is meant by glide sign in pleural ultrasound

Answer 2

Bright white horizontal parallel line seen on the US
- reverberation artefacts
shows that the visceral pleural surface is smooth

Question 3

What is meant by comet tails or rockets in pleural ultrasound

Answer 3

black or white vertical artefacts- not a smooth surface, surface consolidation or oedema

Question 4

What is meant by shred sign on pleural ultrasound

Answer 4

consolidated lung with air bronchograms
white lines where air has been trapped in bronchioles

Question 5

What is meant by tissue signs on a pleural ultrasound

Answer 5

solid consolidated tissue- not air left

Question 6

What signs on pleural ultrasound will you see in a pneumothorax

Answer 6

thicker parietal pleura
line won’t glide
can allow mapping of extent of the pneumothorax