Renal ultrasound in emergency medicine is used to identify the presence of hydronephrosis, which suggests post-renal obstruction. It is also used to evaluate the bladder for urinary retention, size, and volume. Which transducer should I use? A low frequency transducer should be used to ensure adequate depth of penetration. The curvilinear offers the best resolution, but the phased array may offer the advantage of greater ability to image between the ribs. Getting started: How to begin: Turn the machine on. Select the transducer you wish to use by touching the button where the correct transducer’s cord meets the machine. Once a screen appears, press the button on the right of the keypad. “Patient” Enter your name in the Last Name slot. Enter the patient’s medical record in the Medical Record slot. Select the type of scan you wish to perform from the drop down menu on the upper right of the screen. Usually, you will want abdomen. Press Done (on the bottom right of the screen) to leave this screen. Imaging the kidneys: Begin on the patient’s right side in a coronal plane (with the indicator pointing towards the patient’s head). Place the transducer along the patient’s mid-axillary line, at approximately the 6th-7th intercostal space. You should see the liver on the left of the screen, with the kidney in long axis to the right of the liver (See below). You may need to angle to transducer towards the patient’s back or move the entire probe up or down a rib space to get an adequate image. Press to save your image. “Save” Angle the transducer towards the patient’s back and then towards the patient’s front to view the entire kidney. Identify the calyx of the kidney as the bright white area in the center of the kidney. There should be a minimum of black within this white space. When fluid is present (which suggests obstruction or hydronephrosis), the calyx will appear distended with black fluid (see below). Holding the transducer in turn it so that the indicator is now pointing towards the patient’s right. This will allow us to examine the kidney in transverse or oblique.
Renal ultrasound in emergency medicine is used to identify the presence of hydronephrosis, which suggests post-renal obstruction. It is also used to evaluate the bladder for urinary retention, size, and volume. Which transducer should I use? A low frequency transducer should be used to ensure adequate depth of penetration. The curvilinear offers the best resolution, but the phased array may offer the advantage of greater ability to image between the ribs. Getting started: How to begin: Turn the machine on. Select the transducer you wish to use by touching the button where the correct transducer’s cord meets the machine. Once a screen appears, press the “Patient” button on the right of the keypad. Enter your name in the Last Name slot. Enter the patient’s medical record in the Medical Record slot. Select the type of scan you wish to perform from the drop down menu on the upper right of the screen. Usually, you will want abdomen. Press Done (on the bottom right of the screen) to leave this screen. Imaging the kidneys: Begin on the patient’s right side in a coronal plane (with the indicator pointing towards the patient’s head). Place the transducer along the patient’s mid-axillary line, at approximately the 6th-7th intercostal space. You should see the liver on the left of the screen, with the kidney in long axis to the right of the liver (See below). You may need to angle to transducer towards the patient’s back or move the entire probe up or down a rib space to get an adequate image. Press “Save” to save your image. Angle the transducer towards the patient’s back and then towards the patient’s front to view the entire kidney. Identify the calyx of the kidney as the bright white area in the center of the kidney. There should be a minimum of black within this white space. When fluid is present (which suggests obstruction or hydronephrosis), the calyx will appear distended with black fluid (see below). Holding the transducer in turn it so that the indicator is now pointing towards the patient’s right. This will allow us to examine the kidney in transverse or oblique.
Ultrasound%20Elective%20Manual.docx