POCUS

EFAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma)  EFAST is an extension of FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) that adds thoracic views .    PROBE & SETTINGS Probe: Curvilinear (3–5 MHz) or phased array Depth: 15–20 cm (abdomen), shallow for lung Mode: B-mode (main), M-mode (for lung) 1. Pericardial View (Cardiac) A. Subxiphoid […]

Gastric Ultrasound Gastric point-of-care ultrasound (Gastric POCUS or Gastric USG) is a bedside ultrasound technique used to determine: Whether the stomach is empty or contains contents Nature of gastric contents (empty, clear fluid, thick fluid, solid) Estimated gastric volume Aspiration risk Suitability for anesthesia, procedural sedation, extubation, or enteral feeding The technique was pioneered by

Subcostal (subxiphoid) view Probe: Curvilinear or phased array (2–5 MHz) 1.5–2 cm caudal to hepatic vein–IVC junction right flank approach or coronal IVC view. Right mid-axillary line or slightly anterior Level: 8th–11th intercostal space Use liver as acoustic window Parameter Value IVC diameter 1.2–2.1 cm Collapsibility >50% (spontaneous breathing) IVC Indices  A. Collapsibility Index (CI)

Diaphragm ultrasound Diaphragm ultrasound has become one of the most useful bedside tools in the ICU. It provides a real-time assessment of diaphragmatic structure and function, helps predict weaning success, detects ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD), identifies phrenic nerve injury, and follows recovery over time. Two parameters are routinely measured: Diaphragm Excursion (DE) → movement of

Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter (ONSD) Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter (ONSD) measurement by bedside ultrasound is a rapid, non-invasive, repeatable method for estimating intracranial pressure (ICP). Although ONSD does not directly measure ICP, enlargement of the optic nerve sheath strongly correlates with raised ICP because the optic nerve sheath is anatomically continuous with the intracranial subarachnoid

Cardiac Output in Critical Care Echocardiography  It represents the volume of blood pumped by the heart each minute and reflects the adequacy of systemic perfusion. Unlike pulmonary artery catheter measurements, echocardiography estimates CO non-invasively by measuring LVOT diameter and LVOT Velocity Time Integral (VTI).   Introduction Cardiac Output = Amount of blood ejected by the

Ejection Fraction in Critical Care Echocardiography Ejection Fraction (EF) is the percentage of blood ejected by the left ventricle (LV) during systole. It is the most commonly reported index of LV systolic function but should never be interpreted in isolation, especially in critically ill patients where preload, afterload, inotropes, vasopressors, and mechanical ventilation significantly influence

RV and LV Size Assessment in Critical Care Echocardiography  Chamber size immediately narrows the differential diagnosis of shock and guides fluid, vasopressor, thrombolysis, or mechanical support decisions. Current CCE competency statements recommend that every intensivist be able to assess global LV size and global RV size, initially by visual estimation and, when necessary, by quantitative

Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE)  MAPSE (Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion) measures the distance the mitral annulus moves toward the LV apex during systole. Unlike LVEF, which mainly reflects radial shortening, MAPSE reflects longitudinal myocardial fiber contraction i.e (LV) longitudinal systolic function, making it particularly sensitive for detecting early LV systolic dysfunction. It is