Critical Care Ultrasound

What you will learn

Your patient is critically ill, and you need to identify the source of shock.  Point-of-care ultrasound is an essential diagnostic tool in any pediatric resuscitation.  In this chapter, we evaluate shock by assessing for left ventricular dysfunction, central venous pressure, and intra-peritoneal or pulmonary pathology.  This algorithm guides the diagnosis and management of the critically ill pediatric patient.  You will learn critical care ultrasound through a number of illustrative cases.  By the end of the module, you will be prepared to evaluate the source of shock in your own pediatric patient population.

• Left ventricular function and filling in shock
• Central venous pressure evaluation
• Intra-peritoneal free fluid as a possible source
• Shock due to pulmonary pathology
• Apply an algorithmic approach to the critically ill patient
• How right ventricular outflow obstruction presents on ultrasound
• Cardiac standstill and your pediatric patient