![]() Centre the probe so the IJV is centred on the monitor.ħ. Position: the IJV is usually (but not always) lateral to the carotid.įigure 2. Cross-section of the carotid artery and IJV 3Ħ.Respiratory variability: central venous structures will fluctuate in size with respiration.Compressibility: veins are easily compressed (if you only see one vessel, use less pressure as you may have fully compressed the IJV).Shape: the carotid will be circular whereas the IJV can be oval or irregularly shaped.Wall thickness: arteries have thicker more muscular walls than venous structures.Identify the internal jugular vein (IJV) and the carotid artery, assessing the following: Place the probe in a transverse orientation within 2cm of the clavicle.ĥ. Set the gain of the ultrasound to mid-range.Ĥ. supine, head of the bed at 45°, patient’s head laterally rotated to the side not being scanned)Ģ. Position your patient as you would when assessing the jugular venous pressure (JVP) in a clinical exam (e.g. Ensure the probe is perpendicular to the skinġ.Dim the lights to improve your view of the monitor.Make good contact between the probe and skin (whilst ensuring the patient is comfortable).Some general tips for achieving an optimal view include: General tips for achieving an optimal view It is often best to begin deep to orientate yourself and then work more superficially to bring the object of interest into the middle of the screen.Depth measures are shown in cm on the side of the ultrasound monitor.The gain should be adjusted until fluid appears black and soft tissue appears mid-grey with some parts of the image appearing white.Gain is typically controlled by a knob.Adjusting the gain of an ultrasound changes the brightness of the image.Adjusting the settings to achieve an optimal view.Ĭommon settings for achieving an optimal view.Placing the probe onto the patient and observing the images on the screen.Once you’ve chosen an appropriate probe and are holding it right, the next steps of performing an ultrasound involve: If you are unsure, it is best to place your finger on one side of the probe and look for movement on the screen (the side that shows movement by the dot is the side that should face the patient’s right). This marker should be toward the patient’s right in transverse and head in longitudinal. Typically, there is a dot or a cross on the probe, this correlates with a dot on the left side of the screen. Figure 1. Correct ultrasound probe grasp ² Probe orientation The image below demonstrates how to appropriately hold an ultrasound probe. Useful for abdominal, pelvic, obstetric and deep lung tissue.Low resolution, but greater depth (10-20cm).Good for vascular access, nerve blocks, assessment of testes and superficial lung tissue.High resolution but superficial (1-6cm) depth.Typically there are 3 different types of ultrasound probe: linear, curvilinear and phased. Probe basics How do I know which probe I should use? Selecting an appropriate ultrasound probe for the area being examined.Entering the patient’s information (e.g. ![]() ![]() Turning on the machine (easy, but often overlooked often a button in the upper left or right corner of the keypad).The first steps of performing an ultrasound involve: OtherĪ shadow may be noted on an ultrasound when a hypoechoic area is located behind a hyperechoic structure. Fluid and fluid-filled structuresįluid and fluid-filled structures produce an anechoic signal.Īn anechoic signal appears black as there is no reflection of ultrasound waves. Cartilage and muscleĬartilage and muscle produce a hypoechoic signal.Ī hypoechoic signal appears dark as most waves pass through the tissue. How do tissue types differ in their reflection of sound waves? Bones, fat and stonesīones, fat and stones produce a hyperechoic signal.Ī hyperechoic signal is bright as most ultrasound waves are reflected. The sound waves are then transformed into an image by special software. The reflected sound waves are then picked up by the ultrasound transducer.Ĥ. These sound waves are then reflected by different tissue types in different ways.ģ. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted from a transducer.Ģ. Ultrasound basics How does ultrasound work?¹ġ. ![]() You might also be interested in our OSCE Flashcard Collection which contains over 2000 flashcards that cover clinical examination, procedures, communication skills and data interpretation.
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