Advanced Lung Step 2

Step 2: Review Competency Goals for this module

  • Identification of a relatively hypoechoic or echo-free space surrounded by typical anatomic boundaries: diaphragm, chest wall, ribs, visceral pleura, normal/consolidated/ atelectatic lung
  • Identification of liver and ascites, spleen, kidney, heart, pericardium and pericardial effusion, spinal column, aorta, inferior vena cava
  • Identification of characteristic dynamic findings of pleural fluid, such as diaphragmatic motion, floating lung, dynamic fluid motion, respirophasic shape change
  • Characterization of fluid: anechoic; echogenicity (using liver/spleen as reference); homogeneous or heterogeneous; presence of strands/debris/septations
  • Performance of semi quantitative assessment of fluid volume
  • Identification of miscellaneous findings, such as pleural based masses or thickening
  • Recognition of specific limitations of ultrasonography to identify pleural fluid, such as inadequate image quality due to technical limitations, subcutaneous emphysema, hemothorax, echo-dense purulent fluid, mimics of effusion such as mesothelioma or pleural fibrosis

 

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