POCUS Flashcards
What is POCUS
Point-of-care-ultrasonography
What are the benefits of FAST scans?
Performed rapidly
Inexpensive
Can be done while other diagnostics are happening
Cage-side
Radiation sparing
What can POCUS be used for?
Guiding procedures
Diagnoses
Screening following trauma
What does FAST stand for?
Focuses Assessment with Sonography for Trauma
Positioning for AFAST
Right lateral recumbency (left lateral can also be used, dorsal is not recommended)
Name the four locations that are looked at during an AFAST
Diaphragmatic-hepatic
Spleno-renal (L)
Cysto-colic
Hepato-renal (R)
What might you see on diaphragmatic-hepatic view that could indicate right side heart failure?
Dilated hepatic vein
How does free fluid present in the spleno-renal view?
A lil triangle
What is an abdominal fluid score?
Objective scale used to gauge severity of abdominal effusions
AFS 1-4
Ex. Fluid identified in the spleno-renal and hepatic-renal view would be an AFS score of 2
How are abdominal fluid scores best utilized?
Serially in the same position to monitor
Repeat every four hours to check amount of free fluid (increasing or decreasing)
Limitations to AFAST
False positives common at DH and SR sites
False negatives common b/c intrapelvic fluid is not visible
Might not be able to image d/t obesity or subcutaneous edema
How many locations do we look at on a TFAST?
3
_________ lateral recumbency is the best position for TFAST
Right
Can use left lateral or sternal, just not dorsal
The three sites for TFAST
CTS (Chest Tube Site)
Pericardial Site
Diaphragmatico-hepatic
Where is the CTS?
Highest outward point of the dog’s thorax dorsal to the xyphoid
T/F: the glide sign is only visible with a pneumothorax
False - a glide sign is the normal to and fro motion of the long sliding along the chest wall during respiration
If a pneumo thorax is present, the glide sign will be absent
Lung contusions will lead to
Rockets! Will see shadows where ribs are and then between each rib shadow you’ll see bright white lines
A rain sign on M-Mode indicates
Interstitial disease
A barcode sign on M-mode indicates
Pneumothorax
A seashore sign on M-mode indicates
Normal lung
For the _________ site of a TFAST, the probe is placed just caudal to the point of the elbow
Pericardial
There are 5 cardiac views at the pericardial site. What are they?
- R-parasternal short axis - LV or mushroom view
- R-parasternal short axis - mitral valve or fish mouth view
- R-parasternal short axis - base view
- R-parasternal long axis - 4 chamber view
- L-apical long axis - 4 chamber view
What should the LA:AO ratio be?
<1.5
> 1.5 indicates enlarge LA
Normal fractional shortening
25-45% dogs
35-55% cats
What is the image seen on a DH view?
Gallbladder smooching the diaphragm
