Abdomen Trauma Step 2

Step 2: Review Competency Goals for Abdomen Ultrasound in Critical Care

1. Assessment for intraperitoneal fluid
2. Identification of a relatively echo-free space surrounded by typical anatomic boundaries: abdominal wall, diaphragm, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, bladder, bowel, uterus, spinal column, aorta, IVC
3. Identification of abdominal wall, diaphragm, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, bladder, bowel, uterus, spinal column, aorta, IVC
4. Identification of characteristic dynamic findings of intraperitoneal fluid, such as diaphragmatic motion, floating bowel, bowel peristalsis, dynamic fluid motion, and respirophasic shape change, compressibility
5. Characterization of fluid: anechoic, echogenicity (using liver/spleen as reference); homogeneous or heterogeneous; presence of strands/debris/septations
6. Qualitative assessment of intraperitoneal fluid volume
7. Recognition of specific limitations of ultrasonography to identify intraperitoneal fluid such as inadequate image quality due to technical limitations, hemoperitoneum, echo-dense purulent fluid, or retroperitoneal location