Emergency and critical care applications for contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Am J Emerg Med 2018 Jul;36(7):1287-1294
Date
05/03/2018Pubmed ID
29716799DOI
10.1016/j.ajem.2018.04.044Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85046150959 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 23 CitationsAbstract
INTRODUCTION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using intravascular microbubbles has potential to revolutionize point-of-care ultrasonography by expanding the use of ultrasonography into clinical scenarios previously reserved for computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, or angiography.
METHODS: We performed a literature search and report clinical experience to provide an introduction to CEUS and describe its current applications for point-of-care indications.
RESULTS: The uses of CEUS include several applications highly relevant for emergency medicine, such as solid-organ injuries, actively bleeding hematomas, or abdominal aortic aneurysms. Compared with CT as the preeminent advanced imaging modality in the emergency department, CEUS is low cost, radiation sparing, repeatable, and readily available. It does not require sedation, preprocedural laboratory assessment, or transportation to the radiology suite.
CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is a promising imaging technique for point-of-care applications in pediatric and adult patients and can be applied for patients with allergy to CT contrast medium or with impaired renal function. More high-quality CEUS research focusing on accuracy, patient safety, health care costs, and throughput times is needed to validate its use in emergency and critical care settings.
Author List
Kummer T, Oh L, Phelan MB, Huang RD, Nomura JT, Adhikari SAuthor
Mary Beth Phelan MD, RDMS Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Contrast MediaCritical Care
Emergency Medical Services
Humans
Point-of-Care Systems
Ultrasonography
