Loading...
The role of bedside ultrasound is burgeoning in emergency medicine. These authors reviewed data for 50 consecutive patients with cardiac arrest (traumatic and nontraumatic) who underwent transthoracic echocardiography by specially trained emergency physicians during advanced life support management at two hospitals in England from 2006 through 2008.
Overall, cardiac ultrasound views were adequate to determine the presence or absence of pericardial effusion and ventricular wall motion in 94% of patients, and adequate views were obtained during a single 10-second rhythm check in 90% of patients. In seven patients (14%), the results led to interventions (pericardiocentesis, fluid and inotrope administration, or thrombolysis). Outcomes were not …