Aortic ultrasound

Technique

• Transverse
  • Start in epigastrium (below diaphragm) with indicator at 9 o'clock (aorta on left/IVC on right)
  • use liver as window
  • identify vertebral body (shadowing)
  • rock/jiggle the probe to move bowel gas from view
  • Scan from celiac to bifurcation (near umbilicus)
  • Capture and measure the largest diameter

• Sagittal
  • Rotate indicator to 12 o'clock (aorta on top/vertebra on bottom of screen)
  • make sure you're looking at aorta and not IVC (aorta may pulsate/IVC may be compressible)
  • Scan from bifurcation to celiac
  • Capture and measure sagittal views, including the largest diameter
• Measurements
  • Normal is <3cm
  • measure outer wall to outer wall (make sure to include thrombus)
  • watch out for saccular aneurysms

Findings

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • >3cm diameter (transverse or saggital)
  • look for free fluid
  • try to reproduce pain with probe
  • if clot, confirm flow with doppler
• Aortic Dissection
  • double lumen separated by intimal flap
  • confirm with doppler

See Also

• Ultrasound (Main)
• AAA

Source

1. Sonosite