Open AccessWhat is the ideal approach for emergent pericardiocentesis using point-of-care ultrasound guidance?
Author(s) -
Lori Stolz,
Elaine Situ-LaCasse,
Josie Acuña,
Matthew Thompson,
Nicolaus Hawbaker,
Josephine Valenzuela,
Uwe Stolz,
Srikar Adhikari
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
world journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1920-8642
DOI - 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2021.03.001
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardiocentesis , ideal (ethics) , point of care ultrasound , ideal point , point (geometry) , ultrasound , point of care , radiology , medical physics , pathology , surgery , pericardial effusion , epistemology , geometry , mathematics , philosophy
Traditionally performed using a subxiphoid approach, the increasing use of point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency department has made other approaches (parasternal and apical) for pericardiocentesis viable. The aim of this study is to identify the ideal approach for emergency-physician-performed ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis as determined by ultrasound image quality, distance from surface to pericardial fluid, and likely obstructions or complications.