Ultrasound training during ATLS: an early start for surgical interns

Ultrasonography in blunt abdominal trauma

This article discusses studies of the use of ultrasound in patients with blunt abdominal trauma, both in initial assessment and ongoing evaluation. Reviews of studies of children and adults to detect the presence and extent of hemoperitoneum and organ injuries are presented. Ultrasound results are compared with diagnostic peritoneal lavage, computed tomography, clinical course, and autopsy results. The central question addressed is to what extent can ultrasonography replace or supplement other techniques, particularly diagnostic peritoneal lavage, in the assessment of patients with blunt abdominal trauma. Ultrasound equipment, technique, scoring scales, limitations, and training issues are also addressed.

Emergency department ultrasound services by emergency physicians: model for gaining hospital approval

We anticipate that over the next few years, emergency physician use of emergency department ultrasound will become the standard of care. However, many EDs are hampered in their efforts to gain hospital approval for emergency physician use of ultrasound because of the lack of publicized information regarding the goals of such use, the scope of emergency physician ultrasound privileges, emergency physician ultrasound credentialing criteria, and ED ultrasound quality-improvement plans. In this article we address these issues and provide an example of a proposal used successfully to gain hospital approval for ED use of ultrasound by emergency physicians.