Emergency Ultrasound Made Easy

Introduction

How ultrasound works

Abdominal aorta

Focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) and EFAST

Lung and thorax

Focused echocardiography and volume assessment

Renal tract

Gallbladder and common bile duct

Early pregnancy

Ultrasound guided procedures

Nerve blocks

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Musculoskeletal and soft tissues

Soft-tissue foreign bodies

Emergency ultrasound in combat/austere settings

Conclusion

Appendix 1. Useful paperwork: logbook sheet

Appendix 2. Useful organisations

Appendix 3. Further reading

This is a small, soft-backed, pocket book of just over 160 pages. Its aim is to provide a quick entry into the subject and act as an aide memoir for those faced with assessing a patient with ultrasound in an acute situation. Simple drawings are used to show probe position and example ultrasound images are provided. These images are taken from the type of relatively cheap portable ultrasound machine that is likely to be present in the emergency department. There are useful tips and handy hints on how to answer the binary question posed. Importantly, the book tells the reader what ultrasound can and cannot tell you in each scenario, and goes onto say what to do next. The book has well-structured headings enabling easy reference. It has a friendly style and is not in the least intimidating. I would encourage radiologists to make sure that those using ultrasound in this way are taught appropriate skills and know their limitations. This book is a good place for them to start. I like the final quote given, "a fool with a stethoscope will still be a fool with an ultrasound." I strongly urge each practitioner to buy a copy.

Clinical Radiology Journal

This is a very succinct, well-illustrated book, which is sharply clinically focused, and would be of considerable use to those who work in the emergency department and have an interest in adding diagnostic ultrasound to their clinical skills.

Medical Journal of New Zealand

This text provides an excellent introduction to most of the emergency applications for bedside ultrasound. It provides a practical, focused look at the role of bedside ultrasound for non-radiologists.

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

In spite of the disappearance of white coats from British hospital wards, there remains a role for the pocket-sized book. This one achieves what the title claims. Having assumed that the reader has no practical experience of ultrasound scanning, it provides a concise and clear approach to emergency ultraso