The Nuts and Bolts of Performing Focused Cardiovascular Ultrasound (FoCUS)

Abstract

The benefit of focused cardiovascular ultrasound as an adjunct to physical examination has been shown in numerous specialties and in diverse clinical settings. Although the value of these techniques to the practice of anesthesiology is substantial, they have only begun to be incorporated. This article reviews the basic techniques required to perform a bedside focused cardiovascular ultrasound (ie, FoCUS examination). This includes a discussion of patient positioning, breath control, probe position, and manipulation and was supplemented by normal and abnormal examples for review.

Blood flow imaging of high frame rate two‐dimensional vector in cardiovascular ultrasound detection

“…After that, the next processing of each group of data is followed by the same processing to obtain a composite radiofrequency (RF) echo signal. Subsequently, these combined RF echo signals are subjected to wall filtering and rate estimation processing in the manner described in the previous section [27].…”

American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians—part I: clinical indications

“…117 While echocardiography was, for decades, the exclusive domain of the cardiologist, those days have passed. Both the American Society of Echocardiography 118 and the World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultra-Sound 119 have published recommendations for the utility of FoCUS at the bedside for specific clinical indications. With the availability of high-quality, hand-carried devices, as well as the expansion of training and expertise, the perioperative setting has been ushered into a new era of bedside ultrasound.…”

Acquiring and maintaining point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) competence for anesthesiologists

“…It is crucial that the operator recognizes his or her limits by understanding when a poor image should be disregarded and seeking assistance from more experienced colleagues when required. 96 Radiologists have questioned the competence of other specialists to use ultrasound to assess patients and have expressed concerns about the potential for missed or incorrect diagnoses. 97 While these concerns may have seemed warranted, they have not been supported by the evolving literature concerned with ultrasound assessment of cardiac function.…”