Critical Care
The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care publishes articles directed to those who treat patients in the ICU, CCU and SICU including chest physicians, surgeons, pediatricians, pharmacists/pharmacologists, anesthesiologists, critical care nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Manuscripts may be either basic or clinical original investigations or review articles. Potential authors of review articles are encouraged to contact the editors before submission, however, unsolicited review articles will be considered.
Ultrasound for Critical Care Physicians: The Martian
Jawad Abukhalaf, MD
Michel Boivin, MD
Division of Pulmonary, Critical care and Sleep Medicine,
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, NM USA
A 54 year old male with a past medical history significant for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis) and chronic kidney disease presented with hemoptysis and chest pain.
On presentation, he was found to have a 10 cm right middle lobe cavitary lesion and was subsequently treated with high dose steroids, antibiotics and antifungals based on bronchoalveolar lavage results. On day 9 of his hospital stay the patient was found to have bilateral lower extremity deep venous thromboses that were treated with intravenous heparin. On day 11 of his stay, the patient started experiencing lower abdominal pain and hypotension. The patient was resuscitated with saline. Bedside ultrasonography was performed.
Figure 1. Transverse lower abdominal ultrasound in the pelvis.
What does the transverse view of the lower abdomen (just above the symphysis pubis) demonstrate? (Click on the correct answer for an explanation)
Cite as: Abukhalaf J, Boivin M. Ultrasound for critical care physicians: the martian. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2015;11(4):186-8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc135-15 PDF