Lesson 1Standardized views and sequence: lung zones (anterior/lateral/posterior as feasible), cardiac FoCUS, IVC, focused lower-extremity venous examDis describe a practical, reproducible scanning sequence fi dyspneic patients, covering anterior, lateral, an posterior lung zones when feasible, followed by focused cardiac views, IVC assessment, an a targeted lower extremity venous exam fi streamline workflow.
Anterior an lateral lung zone scanning protocolPosterior lung assessment when positioning allowsFocused cardiac views sequence in unstable patientsIVC imaging within di integrated examFocused lower extremity venous compression sequenceLesson 2Clinical priorities for acute dyspnea with heart failure history: hypoxia, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, thromboembolismDis outline immediate priorities in dyspneic heart failure patients, using POCUS fi rapid assess hypoxia, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, an thromboembolism, while integrating clinical data fi guide triage, stabilization, an escalation a care.
Initial airway, breathing, circulation assessmentPOCUS fi rapid hypoxia an shock stratificationIdentifying cardiogenic versus noncardiogenic edemaScreening fi right heart strain an thromboembolismRisk stratification an disposition decisionsLesson 3Machine settings for lung and cardiac imaging: depth, harmonics, lung presets, cardiac presetsDis cover optimization a ultrasound machine settings fi lung an cardiac imaging, including depth, gain, harmonics, presets, an image storage, fi improve visualization a B-lines, pleural interfaces, cardiac chambers, an IVC dynamics in challenging patients.
Depth an focus adjustments fi lung an pleuraGain, dynamic range, an time-gain compensationUse a harmonics an artifact optimizationSelecting an modifying lung an cardiac presetsImage labeling, clips, an documentation settingsLesson 4Common limitations and pitfalls: B-line etiologies beyond cardiogenic edema, body habitus and probe limitations, false-negative DVT scansDis address common limitations an pitfalls in lung–cardiac–venous POCUS, such as noncardiogenic causes a B-lines, body habitus an probe constraints, incomplete venous exams, an cognitive bias, wid strategies fi reduce false reassurance an misdiagnosis.
Noncardiogenic causes a diffuse B-linesImpact a obesity an subcutaneous emphysemaRecognizing incomplete or poor-quality venous scansAvoiding overreliance pon a single POCUS findingChecklists, second looks, an documentationLesson 5POCUS targets: lung comet-tail B-lines, pleural effusion, cardiac function, IVC and lower extremity DVT scanningDis detail key POCUS targets in acute dyspnea: lung B-lines an pleural effusions, global an regional cardiac function, an IVC an lower extremity venous scanning fi detect congestion, right heart strain, an deep vein thrombosis contributing to symptoms.
Scanning fi comet-tail B-lines an A-line patternsDetection an characterization a pleural effusionsFocused assessment a LV an RV systolic functionIVC size an collapsibility fi volume statusLower extremity venous DVT compression protocolLesson 6Management decisions based on findings: diuretics, noninvasive ventilation, vasodilators, need for ICU or cardiology input, anticoagulation for DVT/PE suspicionDis show how fi translate POCUS findings into bedside management: titrating diuretics, vasodilators, an noninvasive ventilation, deciding pon anticoagulation fi suspected DVT or PE, an determining need fi ICU admission or urgent cardiology consultation.
Adjusting diuretics based pon congestion patternsUsing POCUS fi guide noninvasive ventilation useVasodilator an inotrope decisions in shock statesAnticoagulation when DVT or PE suspectedCriteria fi ICU transfer an cardiology inputLesson 7Interpreting POCUS patterns: cardiogenic pulmonary edema vs ARDS vs pneumonia vs pneumothoraxDis explain how fi synthesize lung, cardiac, an venous POCUS patterns fi distinguish cardiogenic pulmonary edema from ARDS, pneumonia, an pneumothorax, emphasizing pattern recognition, integration wid vitals, an awareness a overlapping presentations.
Diffuse B-lines an pleural features in cardiogenic edemaHeterogeneous B-lines an consolidations in ARDSFocal consolidation an dynamic air bronchograms in pneumoniaAbsent lung sliding an lung point in pneumothoraxReconciling discordant lung an cardiac findingsLesson 8When to stop relying on POCUS: need for chest radiograph, CT pulmonary angiography, formal echocardiography, invasive monitoringDis define when POCUS alone nuh enough an additional imaging or monitoring required, including indications fi chest radiograph, CT pulmonary angiography, formal echocardiography, an invasive hemodynamic assessment in unstable or complex patients.
Red flags requiring immediate CT pulmonary angiographyIndications fi formal comprehensive echocardiographyRole a chest radiograph in complex lung findingsWhen fi pursue invasive hemodynamic monitoringDocumenting uncertainty an communicating limitsLesson 9Anatomical landmarks and dynamic signs: A-lines vs B-lines, lung sliding, pleural effusion layering, LV systolic function, IVC collapsibilityDis focus pon key anatomical landmarks an dynamic sonographic signs in lung–cardiac–venous POCUS, including A-lines, B-lines, lung sliding, pleural effusion layering, LV systolic function, an IVC collapsibility, fi support rapid, accurate bedside interpretation.
Recognizing A-lines an B-lines in lung windowsAssessing lung sliding an lung pulseIdentifying an grading pleural effusion layeringVisual estimation a LV systolic functionMeasuring IVC diameter an collapsibilityLesson 10Probe choices and rationale: phased-array for cardiac, curvilinear for lung and pleural, linear for DVT and superficial pleural detailDis review probe selection an rationale fi acute dyspnea POCUS, including phased-array fi cardiac an IVC, curvilinear fi lung an pleura, an linear fi DVT an superficial pleural detail, wid tips fi switching probes efficiently during resuscitation.
Phased-array probe fi cardiac an IVC imagingCurvilinear probe fi lung an pleural assessmentLinear probe fi DVT an superficial pleural detailProbe selection in obese or edematous patientsEfficient probe switching an infection control
