Commentary
Inside the April 2024 Issue
Benjamin T. Galen, MD - We are thrilled to bring you the first issue of the ninth volume of POCUS Journal. Published since 2016, POCUS Journal is the only multi-disciplinary, peer-reviewed, POCUS-focused journal that is free for authors and readers alike. We are grateful for the vision of our founder Dr. Amer Johri and for [...]
Letter
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Fellowship Programs
Sigmund Kharasch, MD; Matthew Moake, MD PhD; Antonio Riera, MD - Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has undergone important growth in the field of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) in the last 14 years and is recognized as a critical diagnostic tool in the care of ill and injured children. The first PEM POCUS fellowship was [...]
Case File
Vaginal Bleeding in a Peri-Menopausal Woman
Ambika Shivarajpur, DO; Brian Kohen, MD - Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful modality to initially identify a molar pregnancy. In this case, we describe a 51-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented to the emergency department (ED) with vaginal bleeding. A transvaginal POCUS was performed, revealing findings concerning for a molar pregnancy. These findings [...]
Case File
Point of Care Ultrasound Identification and Aspiration of a Neck Lymph Node
Andrew Moore, DO; Ali Mrad, MD; Leonard Riley, MD; Sonia M. Castillo MD - The tissue diagnosis and staging of all types of lung cancer is foundational for prognosis and establishing the optimal treatment plan. In order to appropriately stage lung cancer, the highest stage should be established using the 8th edition TNM criteria, where [...]
Case File
VExUS to Guide Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis: Exploring a Novel Dimension of Point of Care Ultrasound
Abhilash Koratala, MD; Mohamed Ibrahim, MD; Sirisha Gudlawar, MD - Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) is a valuable bedside tool for nephrologists within a multi-organ point of care ultrasound (POCUS) framework. VExUS can address limitations of conventional physical examination in identifying hemodynamic congestion and monitoring treatment efficacy. A 53-year-old man with heart failure and end-stage kidney [...]
Case Report
Point of Care Ultrasound Used to Diagnose Nontyphoidal Endocarditis
Zahraa Y. Alqallaf, Ossama S. Maadarani, FRCP; Mohamed E. Elhabibi, MD; Mohamad Abdelfatah, MD; Zouheir I. Bitar, FRCP EDIC EDEC - Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can make an expedited diagnosis, which might lead to early correct management. POCUS should be used in a systemic and integrated approach to evaluate multiple organs in patients with [...]
Case Report
Diagnosis of Cutaneous Larva Migrans using Point of Care Ultrasound
Daniella Lamour, DO; Robert A. Farrow, DO; Jean Pierre; Daniel Puebla, MD; Paul Khalil, MD - Larva migrans is a cutaneous parasitic infection that occurs when an immature hookworm larva inadvertently penetrates the dermis of a human, typically on the extremities. Traditionally, a clinical diagnosis is made when a tortuous/serpiginous eruption is seen superficially in [...]
Case Report
Terson Syndrome Diagnosed by Ocular Point of Care Ultrasound on the Medical Floor
Mark Johnson, MRCP MBBCh BSc - In acute care environments, accurately assessing complications of intracranial pathology can be challenging. Ocular complications in acute intracranial disease are not consistently evaluated despite their high morbidity. We report on a case of monocular diplopia in a 63-year-old man with subacute traumatic brain injury with localized subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Case Report
Gas Forming Pyogenic Liver Abscess Diagnosed by Point of Care Ultrasound
Wei Ven Chin, MD MRCP; Mae Jane Khaw, MD MRCP - Gas-forming pyogenic liver abscess (GFLPA) carries a high mortality rate. Early identification of the source of infection in sepsis results in better survival. Bedside point of care ultrasound (POCUS) can be used to help localize a source of infection. A 59-year-old man presented with [...]
Case Report
Resolution of Sonographic Appendicitis in Pediatrics: a Point of Care Ultrasound Case-Series
Eric Scheier, MD; Benjamin Taragin, MD - Studies of pediatric appendicitis treated conservatively show a considerable rate of recurrence. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) imaging at our facility is routinely performed for abdominal pain and may be more likely than radiology-performed ultrasound to encounter cases that then self-resolve. We present a case series collected from [...]
Case Report
Testicular Torsion with Intact Blood Flow: A Point of Care Ultrasound Case-Series
Eric Scheier, MD - Studies have demonstrated the high sensitivity and specificity of pediatric emergency department (PED) point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the evaluation of testicular torsion. Rarely, testicular torsion may present with intact blood flow. Here, we present a case series of four children with testicular torsion confirmed intraoperatively, who had intact blood [...]
Case Report
Point of Care Ultrasound as a Key Tool in the Evaluation of a Woman with Syncope
Jenniffer Katherine Guío Rodríguez, MD; Jenny del Pilar Rico Mendoza, MD; Elkin René Barrios Peralta, MD - Using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to evaluate patients with syncope in the emergency department facilitates the timely diagnosis of life-threatening pathologies. Case: A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department of a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, for [...]
Research
Effectiveness of a Brief Point of Care Ultrasound Course at a National Nephrology Conference
Abhilash Koratala, MD; Nilam J. Soni, MD MS; Rupal Mehta, MD; Nathaniel Reisinger, MD - The rising demand for point of care ultrasound (POCUS) instruction during nephrology fellowship has been limited due to a shortage of trained faculty and courses designed specifically for nephrologists. A hands-on POCUS pre-course was organized during the April 2023 National [...]
Research
Emergency Physician Performed Ultrasound-Guided Abdominal Paracentesis: A Retrospective Analysis
Brandon M. Wubben, MD; Jad Dandashi, MD; Omar Rizvi, MD; Srikar Adhikari, MD - Emergency physicians commonly perform ultrasound-assisted abdominal paracentesis, using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to identify ascites and select a site for needle insertion. However, ultrasound-guided paracentesis has the benefit of real-time needle visualization during the entire procedure. Our objective was to [...]
Review
Best Practices for Point of Care Ultrasound: An Interdisciplinary Expert Consensus
Brandon Oto, PA-C FCCM; Robert Baeten, PA-C FCCP; Leon Chen, DNP AGACNP-BC FCCP FAANP FCCM; Puja Dalal, MD FAAFP; Ria Dancel, MD FACP SFHM FAAP; Steven Fox, MD; Carl William Lange IV, MSBS EM-CAQ PA-C; Cameron Baston, MD MSCE FACP; Paul Bornemann, MD RMSK RPVI; Siddharth Dugar, MD FCCM FASE FCCP; Andrew Goldsmith, MD MBA; [...]
