Evaluation Of Congestion Levels in Septic Patients Admitted to Critical Care Units with a Combined Venous Excess-Lung Ultrasound Score (VExLUS) – a Research Protocol

Miguel Romano, MD; Eduardo Viana, MS; José Diogo Martins, MD; Rogério Corga da Silva, MD – Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection with a high mortality rate. Septic shock is a subset of sepsis with manifest circulatory dysfunction (use of vasopressors and persistent elevation of lactic acid) . As stated in literature, in addition to the use of empiric antibiotics and control of the infectious focus, intravenous fluid therapy is an essential intervention to promote hemodynamic stabilization. However, the literature also describes harmful outcomes related to fluid overload.

A Comment on the November Issue of POCUS Journal

Benjamin T. Galen, MD – This is a very exciting issue of POCUS Journal. We have two new sections: a book review and Innovations in POCUS Curriculum.

Book Review: “Ultrasound for the Generalist: A Guide to Point-of-Care Imaging”

Reviewed by: Daniel Restrepo, MD, FHM – Drs. Clare and Duncan, as well as the contributing authors for the chapters have compiled a comprehensive and complete work that champions the practice of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by generalists, denoting its myriad utilities and diagnostic power.

An Introductory Curriculum for Internal Medicine Interns in Point-of-Care Ultrasound to Detect Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis

Peter C. Nauka, MD; Darlene LeFrancois, MD; Benjamin T. Galen, MD – Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is prevalent amongst hospitalized patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Delays in DVT diagnosis may result from relying on duplex ultrasound studies performed and interpreted by the vascular laboratory.

Three Cases of Right Heart Thrombus: Using POCUS for the Diagnosis of Thromboembolism in COVID-19

Sergio Velasco Malagón, MD; Juliana Moreno Ladino, MD; Hector Andres Ruiz, MD – COVID-19 generates a series of challenges, one of them being thrombotic manifestations of the disease. The growing use of POCUS and its wide versatility have expanded its use outside of radiology rooms.

POCUS Finding of Portal Venous Gas: An Unusual Consequence of an Amyloid Dysmotility Related Bezoar

Grace B. DeMarco, MD; Qiuchen Jiang, MD; Ernest A. Fischer, MD MS – A 73-year-old male with a recent finding of pericardial effusion and syncope was evaluated with point of care ultrasound for recurrent effusion. A thickened left ventricle and recurrent pericardial effusion were found.

A Non-Resolving “Hematoma” Diagnosed as an Arteriovenous Malformation by POCUS

Michael Freilich, MD; Benjamin Galen, MD; Deborah Schwartz, MD – Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful tool for the evaluation of soft tissue masses. We present the case of a patient with a mass on his forehead initially thought to be a slowly resolving hematoma.

A Rare Cause of Neck Lump in an Infant

David J McCreary, MBBS MRCPCH PgC US; Salmah Lashhab, MBChB MRCPCH – A 5 month old girl presented to the Paediatric Emergency Department with a rapidly growing neck mass over 24 hours. She was systemically well and otherwise asymptomatic.

A National Survey of Prehospital Care Services of United Kingdom for Use, Governance and Perception of Prehospital Point of Care Ultrasound

Salman Naeem, MBBS, Dip IMC, PG Cert Medical ultrasound; Christopher Edmunds, MBChB, FRCEM, FFICM, FIMC2; Thomas Hirst, MA, MBBS, MSc, Dip IMC; Julia Williams, PhD, BSc FCPara FEA4; Amir Alzarrad; James Ronaldson; Jon Barrat, RAMC, FRCEM, FIMC, DMCC; East Anglian Air Ambulance Research, Audit, Innovation and Development (RAID) Group; PreHospital Trainee Operated Research Network (PHOTON) – Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has become a common practice in prehospital care over the last 10 years. There is lack of literature on its use and governance structure in United Kingdom (UK) prehospital care services.

Incidental Findings in POCUS: “Chance favors the prepared mind”

Sara Obeid, MD MPH; Benjamin Galen, MD; Trevor Jensen, MD MS – Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has the potential to rapidly aide in diagnostic algorithms at the bedside, however POCUS users are often faced with the dilemma of appropriate management of incidental findings.