Dr. Pfeiffer with a nice review on utility of POCUS for evaluation of 2nd/3rd Trimester pregnancies and their complications.    ..read more

CONSIDER THE PROBE: CXR? WHY BOTHER...POCUS THAT PNA! (Courtesy Dr. Larissa Unruh) Now the following topic is extremely close to my heart.  Lung US is well studied in both adult and pediatric patients and has excellent test characteristics for the diagnosis of Pneumonia (AND Bronchiolitis!!!). Dr. Unruh takes us through the following case of a man who clinically had PNA and was actually HYPOXIC, requiring O2.  He had a single CXR that was read by the attending radiologist as negative...leaving us with a patient with a new oxygen requirement with a normal CXR. Thank goodness Dr. Unruh ..read more

During a time where we are becoming more and more cognizant (sp?) of the dangers of chronic opiate use, we should be considering all available tools when addressing our patients' pain.  Dr. Joseph Koes presents a series on regional anesthesia including an introduction to regional anesthesia, a review of forearm blocks, and a review of thoracic blocks.   Enjoy the following lecture with much more to come from the good Dr. Koes... Like what you see? Maybe consider a fourth-year Ultrasound elective...   ..read more

 Dr. Cooper gives a nice review of how POCUS is a great tool for the evaluation of acute ocular trauma.  US can assist in making a number of critical diagnoses...  A quick reminder that if globe rupture is being strongly considered, you must be very careful before you perform your POCUS.  Some consider US contraindicated in these cases.  To be careful, you should strongly consider staining the eye quickly to evaluate for a globe rupture before proceeding with your POCUS ..read more

Read the Blaivas paper on interscalene nerve blocks while listening to the podcast below.  For more FOAMed fun check out the Nerve Block page ..read more

The FAST exam is one of the most important POCUS applications for emergency providers to be proficient in.  Whether it be to detect the source of hemorrhage in a blunt trauma patient, identify a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, or (recently here at Cook County) diagnose an atraumatic splenic rupture in a patient with active malignancy, this modality can critically affect clinical decision making and patient outcomes. Dr. Mansour dives a bit deeper into some of the more recent evidence on where we should be looking for free fluid in the abdomen ..read more

  REGIONAL ANESTHESIA REMIX:  TORSO BLOCKS (Courtesy Dr. Joseph Koes) While many emergency medicine physicians may not be comfortable with regional anesthesia of the torso, it is important to always be looking towards the future and how we can best serve our patients.   Dr. Koes gives a nice review of two important blocks: serratus anterior and erector spinae. These blocks may prove to be especially helpful in managing a geriatric trauma patient, where IV narcotics may be especially harmful.  Enjoy the lecture and remember to always CONSIDER THE PROBE ..read more

Check out the awesome lecture below by EM Intern Dr. Michael Daley.  Read the Becker paper on the importance of CBD measurement while listening to the podcast.  Read the Gaspari paper on learning curves in biliary US education while listening to the podcast.  For more FOAMed fun check out the Biliary page ..read more

FELLOW'S CORNER: Pericardial Effusion, Tamponade, and Pericardiocentesis Dr. Pfeiffer takes us through a great review of diagnosing a circumferential effusion, identifying tamponade physiology and the safest way to perform what may be a once-in-a career procedure: an emergent pericardiocentesis.  (Hint...its Ultrasound Guided...)   ..read more

CONSIDER THE PROBE: McConnell's Sign (Courtesy Dr. Jia) COVID-10 presented many challenges to emergency departments.  Early on, an association between COVID and thrombo-emoblic disease was discovered.  As this was a novel infection, there were no evidence-based rules to assist a provider when deciding when to work up a patient with presumed COVID pneumonia for a concurrent thromboembolism.  Seems like a great time to CONSIDER THE PROBE! Dr. Jia summarizes a great case where bedside ultrasound detected a McConnell's Sign, helping to diagnose a significant acute pulmonary embolism ..read more