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
Source
1. Sonosite