Indications for ED Ultrasound

ED Ultrasound (ED U/S) is a HIGHLY LIMITED use of ultrasound in potentially life-threatening situations when there is no time to involve radiological colleagues. As reflected in the Society's logo, this includes:

• pericardial tamponade and cardiac standstill
• intraperitoneal hemorrhage in trauma
• ruptured AAA
• ruptured ectopic pregnancy

ED U/S facilitates the management of these cases by enabling the physician to detect pericardial effusions, free fluid in the abdomen, a dilated AAA and an intrauterine pregnancy.

ED U/S is therefore of interest to any physician involved in the care of critically ill patients, but particularly emergency physicians, general surgeons, intensivists, vascular surgeons, cardiologists and gynecologists.

ED U/S should also be used whenever possible to guide the placement of central venous catheters.