Ultrasound (main)

GB

-Measure CBD from inner to inner, normal is up to 6mm to age 69, then add 1 mm per decade (ie 7 mm @ age 70 is nl)

-Nl GB wall is <3-4 mm

-For acalculous cholecystitis the GB will be >10cm long & > 4 cm wide

AAA

-Measure outer wall to outer wall

-Nl aorta is <2.9 cm, must measure from below diaphragm in both planes to bifurcation!

Cardiac

-In parasternal view w/ dot pointing to Lt arm, the nl aortic root (to look for type A dissection) is <3.8 cm

-One trick is to find aorta & drop probe flat under ribs to see aorta.

FAST

-Always point dot to pt Rt (usu at 45 degrees) or @ pt head

-Morrisons pouch is best seen w/ probe around mid ax to ant ax line. This is the most sensitive spot to see fluid w/ pt in trendelenberg. Nd 150-500cc of blood to see here depending on skill of sonographer.

-Splenorenal put in post ax line. Nd 400-500cc blood to see

-Also chk bladder for free fluid in pelvis & pericardium for effussion

Source

By Lampe (9/04)