Echocardiography Flashcards
What is echocardiography and what are its benefits?
ECHO - use of ultrasound to examine the heart. It can be done quickly, with least trouble and distress to the patient, provides clinically relevant data at low cost.
What can ECHO give you information about?
Cardiac shape, the size and shape of chambers, function and morphology of cardiac valves
Name the three types of transducers and what they are used for
Linear array - Superficial structures and musculoskeletal.
Curved array - Abdomen and sometimes chest.
Phased array - small footprint so useful imaging areas where access is limited such as the heart through the ribs.
What is the acronym PART for?
US probe manoeuvers: Pressure, Alignment, rotation and tilting
What is different about probe orientation for echos
It is directed towards the right side of the patient when preforming a transverse scan and towards head when longitudinal scan.
For transthoracic echocardiography what are the three imaging windows?
Parasternal, apical and subcostal
Where is the location of the parasternal view? and what will you be able to see?
In the 3rd or 4th intercostal space just to the left of the sternum with the transducer pointing to right shoulder. Will be able to see LV, LA, aortic vestibule and aortiv valve with little but of RV
How can you image the mirtal and aortic valve?
In the parasternal view, turn the probe 90 degrees so it points to patients left shoulder, perpendicular to chest wall for mitral and pointed upwards for aortic valve.
What is the function of M - mode
Analyse tissue motion
How can you visualise the papillary muscle
Parasternal view with transducer pointing to left shoulder (turn it 90 degrees), tilt the transducer downwards
Where is the location of the apical view? What will you see?
At the mid clavicular line in the 5th intercostal space, pointed to left shoulder and slightly downwards. See 4 chambers of the heart
Where is the location of the subcostal view and what will you see?
2-3cm below xiphoid process. Transducer marker is at 3oclock. You will see the four chambers of the heart but they are at an angle
How can us visualise the IVC
From subcostal view, rotate transducer 90 counter clockwise.
What are you looking for in basic echo in resuscitation? (POCUS)
Pericardial effusion, enlarged RV, LV size in conjunction with IVC and LV systolic function.
What are the cardiovascular complications with marfan’s syndrome?
Dilation of ascending and sometimes descending aorta and incompetence of aortic and mitral valve. This can lead to aneurysm and dissection of aorta.
