The IOW this week comes from Dr. Deutsch, who used bedside ultrasound to evaluate a patient with cough and shortness of breath. The Xray below was obtained from triage.
Image 1
On a quick look, the air bronchograms present in the bilateral lower lobes can be difficult to visualize. Bedside ultrasound can help you to confirm the presence of pneumonia. In normal lung the air in the alveoli reflects and scatters sound waves, leaving an “A-line” pattern. As consolidation develops air is displaced by fluid and subpleural consolidations can be seen.
Image 2
Don’t forget that ultrasound can only identify lung pathology that reaches the pleural line in the location that you have placed the probe.
Date: May 2015