Ultrasounds 2

Question 1

Describe the risks and benefits of ultrasound

Answer 1

Ultrasound waves can heat the tissue slightly.

• Can produce small pockets of gas in body fluids or tissue
• Long term effects of these side effects are unknown.
• While being relatively safe, the use of ALARA is still applied.

Question 2

What is lithotripy?

Answer 2

Process of using ultrasound shock waves to break up stones in the urinary system.

Question 3

What is ALARA

Answer 3

A polocy that menas ‘As Low As Reasonably Achievable’. It encourages practitioners to only use diagnostic equipment when absolutely necessary.

Question 4

Why must practitioners be extremely careful using the Doppler DUS?

Answer 4

Because it concentrates the power over a small area, increasing the potential for heating

Question 5

What is POCUS

Answer 5

Point Of Care UltraSound. It is defined as a goal-directed bedside ultrasound examination to answer a diagnostic question or to guide the performance of an invasive procedure.

Question 6

What are some clinical applications of DUS

Answer 6

• In- and out-of-plane needle placement.
• Central venous catheter insertion.
  In infant hip dysplasia.
• Cranial ultrasound
• Echocardiography
• Assessment of limping child
• Using power Doppler to detect synovitis
  -To guide joint aspiration (removing excess fluid)
• Guide steroid injection into joints
• Assessment of benign breast disease
  -Fine needle aspiration using US guidance for cytology.

Question 7

Describe some of the benefits and limitations of POCUS

Answer 7

• Allows for a safer procedure for invasive procedures.
• Can require extensive training depending of the examination type.
• Requires prior experience with ultrasounds.
• Skills are mostly limited to practitioners speciality

Question 8

What is a FAST examination?

Answer 8

A limited ultrasound scan preformed in the emergency department to assess trauma patients with abdominal injuries.