After our last post on ‘how to estimate the right atrial pressure’, we received questions from our readers. What do we do if we cannot assess the IVC? What if the patient is on a vent? This week we will answer those questions.
In an early blog, Abdominal Ultrasound for Echocardiographers: Part 1, we reviewed some basic tips for echocardiographers scanning the abdomen. We reviewed artifacts, image orientation and patient positioning.
How often have you found yourself “in over your head” in the abdomen when trying to image the IVC and abdominal aorta? Is imaging the abdominal aorta part of your echo protocol? It is not uncommon for a patient to receive an abdominal ultrasound because the echo findings mentioned the presence of gallstones, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), or some other abnormality.
Us clinicians commonly ask the same popular question in our field, “What is the cut-off ranges for pulmonary hypertension?!” We want to help better understand the basics of determining the presence of pulmonary hypertension with echocardiography.
In Hepatic Veins 101, we discussed the structure, function and waveforms of the hepatic veins, in regards to the cardiac cycle. This blog will cover how the hepatic veins play a role with the right heart. We tend to forget about the importance and useful information the hepatic veins provide us. Lets review, how the hepatic veins play a role in:
HOW COULD I IMPROVE THIS IMAGE?
Modality: Transthoracic Echocardiography
View: Subcostal long axis IVC
ANSWER:
The image could be optimized to elongate the IVC to ensure the correct diameter is measured.
Last week, we shared our new year resolutions which including writing more and inspiring more. So I am jumping right in by writing a blog on the correct method to estimate right atrial pressures (RAP) when calculating your RVSP during an echo. The American Society of Echocardiography has outlined the correct use of the Collapsibility Index to estimate RAP yet the majority of the echocardiograms that we review on a daily basis still have an RAP of 10 entered for every echo. After speaking with sonographers, most admit it’s either a bad habit or it is just what they were taught to do.
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