POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17201
E. Scheier
{"title":"Testicular Torsion with Intact Blood Flow: A Point of Care Ultrasound Case-Series","authors":"E. Scheier","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17201","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract 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 flow on POCUS. Markers of testicular torsion can include surrounding hydrocele, heterogenous echotexture, absent venous or high resistance arterial flow, or a torsed cord complex. POCUS practitioners should be familiar with these findings, and the presence of any one or more of these findings should prompt urgent urology consultation to avoid missed torsion.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"77 7","pages":"55 - 59"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140675313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16678
Nilan Schnure, Mahmoud Mohamed Elfadil, Wilma Chan, Cameron M. Baston, Frances Shofer, Nova Panebianco
{"title":"Trends in Point of Care Ultrasound Familiarity Among Undergraduate Medical Clerkship Educators","authors":"Nilan Schnure, Mahmoud Mohamed Elfadil, Wilma Chan, Cameron M. Baston, Frances Shofer, Nova Panebianco","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16678","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16678","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives: Despite growing use of point of care ultrasound (POCUS), there remains a paucity of data about familiarity with POCUS among educators who dictate curricular content in undergraduate medical education. This paper aims to longitudinally characterize the level of comfort and frequency of POCUS use among faculty involved in undergraduate clerkship education. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey assessing comfort, frequency of use, and awareness of indications for POCUS among faculty involved in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Surgery undergraduate clerkship education in a single urban academic medical center in 2016 and again in 2022. Results: A total of 45 responses from 2016 and 30 responses from 2022 are included. The percentage of faculty “not comfortable” with performing POCUS decreased from 78% to 46%, although the overall change in comfort was not statistically significant. Comfort interpreting POCUS images, frequency of POCUS use, and familiarity with the clinical applications of POCUS all improved. Faculty identified multiple barriers to more frequent POCUS use. Conclusions: Over a six-year period at one urban, academic medical center, comfort with POCUS and frequency of use have increased slightly but remain low among core faculty responsible for clerkship education. There are still large gaps in knowledge and very few faculty regularly use POCUS, which can be attributed to multiple different barriers.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"55 8","pages":"80 - 86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140677391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16988
Andrew Helber, Margaret Provencher, Christy Moore, Nova Panebianco
{"title":"Hematometra: A Rare Case of Pelvic Pain in Females Identified with Point of Care Ultrasound","authors":"Andrew Helber, Margaret Provencher, Christy Moore, Nova Panebianco","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16988","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16988","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The differential diagnosis for abdominal or pelvic pain in women of child-bearing age that present to the emergency department is broad. A rare cause of abdominal and pelvic pain is hematometra, or a collection of blood products within the uterus. While blood is normally expelled through menses, this process is disrupted in some patients due to congenital or acquired abnormalities. This can lead to progressive uterine distension and pain, which may ultimately require medical or surgical intervention. Hematometra is rare, but is a serious condition that can be diagnosed easily at bedside using point of care ultrasound.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"26 1","pages":"14 - 15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140677767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16895
Edwin Jackson, Heather Andrade, Julie Carroll
{"title":"Hemodialysis Catheter-Associated Right Atrial Thrombus Diagnosed via Point of Care Transesophageal Echocardiogram","authors":"Edwin Jackson, Heather Andrade, Julie Carroll","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16895","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16895","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Catheter-associated right atrial thrombus (CRAT) is a potential complication of central venous catheter placement and is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. The precise incidence of CRAT is unknown, and there is a lack of clear screening and management guidelines for this condition. Additionally, the diagnosis is often missed when using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) alone. Here, we present a case of a 64-year-old female admitted to the medical intensive care unit with multiorgan dysfunction who was diagnosed with hemodialysis catheter-associated right atrial thrombus (HDCRAT) via intensivist-performed point of care transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) after an initial TTE was negative. This patient was successfully treated with systemic anticoagulation, local thrombolysis, and delayed removal of the temporary hemodialysis catheter. Our experience serves to highlight the improved visualization of the right atrium and the diagnostic superiority of HDCRAT with TEE. We suspect that with greater utilization of TEE among intensivists, CRAT and HDCRAT will have increased recognition. It is imperative that intensivists are aware of this complication and various management strategies. Still, more studies are needed to establish clear management guidelines for CRAT and the associated complications.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"81 13","pages":"25 - 28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140677131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22eCollection Date: 2024-01-01DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16795
Sabina Yampolsky, Alan Kwan, Susan Cheng, Ilan Kedan
{"title":"Point of Care Ultrasound for Diagnosis and Management in Heart Failure: A Targeted Literature Review.","authors":"Sabina Yampolsky, Alan Kwan, Susan Cheng, Ilan Kedan","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cardiac point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has shown increasing utility as a tool for diagnosing and managing heart failure (HF). Within cardiology, intravascular volume assessment leveraging visualization of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a central aspect of care, as IVC size correlates with central venous pressure. This targeted literature review aimed to examine the existing literature assessing the use of POCUS in diagnosis and management of HF patients utilizing POCUS-based IVC measurement either alone or in combination with secondary methods.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A targeted PubMed and Ovid database search up until August 28, 2023 using a keyword search was completed. Studies that did not include IVC assessment with POCUS in HF were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The initial search using both PubMed and Ovid resulted in 370 journal publications. After exclusion criteria were used 15 studies were included in the review. Studies were grouped into three categories: 1) how well POCUS was able to identify HF, 2) whether POCUS-based findings correlated with other measures evaluating HF and was able to predict the effect of diuretic administration, and 3) whether POCUS-based findings served as a good prognostic indicator. The 5 studies that evaluated HF identification with POCUS found that both diagnostic sensitivity and specificity may reach 90%-100% when IVC measurement was coupled with a lung ultrasound assessing the presence of B-lines or pleural effusion. Five studies assessing POCUS findings correlating with other HF measures and diuretic effect found that IVC diameter changed significantly with diuretic administration (p<0.05). All 6 studies assessing POCUS as a predictor of long-term mortality or hospital readmission found measures that achieved statistical significance with p<0.05.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Including POCUS as standard-of-care - both as a diagnostic tool in the emergency department and a management tool in in-patient and out-patient facilities - may improve the treatment of HF.</p>","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"9 1","pages":"117-130"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11044942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140861125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16831
S. Alerhand, Marwa Ali, Sean Beckman
{"title":"Point of Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Maxillary Artery Pseudoaneurysm in the Emergency Department","authors":"S. Alerhand, Marwa Ali, Sean Beckman","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16831","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16831","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A pseudoaneurysm results from a tear in a vessel wall. This leads to extravasation of blood into adjacent tissue and eventual formation of a fibrous sac that maintains continuity with the lumen. These vascular injuries very rarely occur in deeper vessels of the face (e.g. maxillary artery) due to protection from structures like the bony mandible and parotid gland. If left untreated, these pseudoaneurysms can lead to infection, thromboembolism, hemorrhage, and compression of surrounding structures such as facial nerve branches. Pseudoaneurysms are typically diagnosed by advanced imaging techniques including computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography. However, these tests require time to perform and interpret, are costly, and take place outside the patient care area. Computed tomography also confers ionizing radiation. Fortunately, point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a readily available, dynamic imaging tool that can be performed at the bedside. Here we present the first known case report of a maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm diagnosed by POCUS in the emergency department. Early differentiation from a typical hematoma led to rapid management in the form of a compression bandage, as well as expedited consultation to the appropriate services.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"03 4","pages":"20 - 24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140676429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Point of Care Ultrasound as a Key Tool in the Evaluation of a Woman with Syncope","authors":"Jenniffer Katherine Guío Rodríguez, Elkin Rene Barrios Peralta, Jenny del Pilar Rico Mendoza","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17329","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17329","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract 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 a syncopal episode. Vital signs, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and routine laboratory tests were normal. Cardiac POCUS was performed, which identified an echogenic mass located in the left atrium, measuring 35x28mm, which in left atrial systole appeared to occupy the entire chamber. She underwent surgical resection of the mass and histopathology revealed atrial myxoma. Conclusions: POCUS was useful in the rapid diagnosis of atrial myxoma in a woman presenting with syncope.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"23 9","pages":"60 - 62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140676714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16987
Antonio Calvo-Cebrián, Rafael Alonso Roca, Ignacio Manuel Sánchez-Barrancos
{"title":"Diagnostic Accuracy of Abdominal Point of Care Ultrasound in Primary Care: Study Design and Protocol","authors":"Antonio Calvo-Cebrián, Rafael Alonso Roca, Ignacio Manuel Sánchez-Barrancos","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16987","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The aim of this study is to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal point of care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by family physicians (FPs) in primary care (PC), in comparison with the findings in the medical record (MR) at 12 months of follow-up. This study is conducted entirely in PC healthcare centers in Spain. Abdominal ultrasound scans performed by FPs (selected on the basis of their ultrasound knowledge and experience) are compared with the findings, or not, in the patient's MR after a 12-month follow-up period. The study will involve 100 FPs in Spain and an estimated sample size of 1334 patients who are to undergo abdominal POCUS at the indication of their physician. The results of the abdominal POCUS will be collected and compared with the findings of the MR. This comparison will be performed by another physician of the research team, different from their FP after one year of follow-up. The diagnostic accuracy of abdominal POCUS has been addressed in the hospital setting but not in PC. This lack of evidence can begin to be resolved with studies such as the one we present, designed for unselected populations such as those treated in PC and taking the patient's MR as the gold standard, which will allow us to make comparisons with the patient's clinical course.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"35 22","pages":"63 - 70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140674356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
POCUS journalPub Date : 2024-04-22DOI: 10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17638
Benjamin Galen
{"title":"Inside the April 2024 Issue","authors":"Benjamin Galen","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17638","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.17638","url":null,"abstract":"Dear Readers,\u0000 \u0000We 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 and for the support of CINQUILL Medical Publishers, Inc. as we enter our ninth year of publication. POCUS is an ever-changing field as clinicians seek out better and faster solutions for patient care at the bedside. We at POCUS Journal continue to evolve as well. Our editorial board is growing to meet the demands of our high volume and high-quality manuscript submissions. We welcome Dr. Andre Kumar of Stanford University and Dr. Manpreet Malik of Emory University to the Internal Medicine section. We also welcome Dr. Andrea of the University of Southern California to the Pediatrics section. Natalie joins us from Queen’s University as the Social media Editor. If you haven’t seen her high-yield on social media I highly encourage you to visit POCUS Journal on X and Instagram for summaries of research articles and other content published in our journal. A journal our size also needs help with statistics, and we are excited that Nicholas has joined our team from the University of Toronto as Statistical Editor. We also have a new Editorial Director of Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Bredon Crawford. We are the first journal to feature an AI bot on our website, which is thanks to Dr. Crawford. Its name is “PJ” and you can find it on the bottom right of our website: www.pocusjournal.com. And finally, we are excited to have had Kathryn Matsushita join our team as , helping us preserve our standard of high quality publishing as the volume of submitted articles and size of our issues continues to grow.\u0000 \u0000\u0000With the addition of these new members, I also share the bittersweet news that our Managing Editor Braeden Hill will be leaving POCUS Journal to pursue MD/PhD studies at The University of Toronto. started at POCUS Journal in 2020 as Social Media Editor and his contributions these past few years have been remarkable. We welcome Laura Guzman of Queen’s University into the role of Managing Editor.\u0000 \u0000Every issue I oversee at POCUS Journal strikes me as better than the last, with fascinating cases and important research that answers key questions related to point of care ultrasound. This issue is no exception.\u0000 \u0000Please find our author guidelines here: https://pocusjournal.com/author-guidelines/\u0000 \u0000Sincerely,\u0000Benjamin T. Galen, MD\u0000Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY\u0000Editor-In-Chief POCUS Journal\u0000","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"21 16","pages":"4 - 4"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140674941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"VExUS to Guide Ultrafiltration in Hemodialysis: Exploring a Novel Dimension of Point of Care Ultrasound","authors":"Abhilash Koratala, Mohamed Ibrahim, Sirisha Gudlawar","doi":"10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16985","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.24908/pocus.v9i1.16985","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract 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 disease on hemodialysis presented with elevated liver function tests. Despite an unremarkable right upper quadrant ultrasound done by radiology, the review of images by the nephrology team uncovered severe venous congestion, evidenced by a dilated inferior vena cava (IVC) and abnormal hepatic and portal vein flow. Follow-up assessments included VExUS scans and daily ultrafiltration that resulted in a notable 8-liter fluid removal. The dynamic changes in IVC shape and improvement in Doppler waveforms underscored successful decongestion. This case demonstrates the clinical utility of VExUS in guiding therapy for fluid overload in complex patients.","PeriodicalId":74470,"journal":{"name":"POCUS journal","volume":"45 8","pages":"16 - 19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140672870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}