Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Emerg Trauma Shock 2020 Jul-Sep;13(3):190-195. Epub 2020 Sep 18.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the use of bedside sonographic measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in the assessment of elevated intracranial pressure in patients with head injury coming to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A prospective study of ED patients presenting with a history of acute head injury, an ocular ultrasound was performed for ONSD measurement, followed by a computed tomography (CT) of the brain. Three measurements were taken for each eye, then, the mean binocular ONSD measurement for each patient was obtained to ensure accuracy. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2020 Sep 2;90(3). Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia.

Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is regarded to be potentially useful to diagnose lung injury in older adults living in nursing homes with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia. We aimed at evaluating presence lung injury among senior nursing home residents by LUS performed with portable wireless scanner echography. The study population consisted of 150 residents with a mean age of 88 years (85% female) residing in 12 nursing homes in Northern Italy. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2020 Aug 21;21:e924306. Epub 2020 Aug 21.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

BACKGROUND There are few reports of crotaline envenomation in Qatar, where clinically significant snakebite is infrequently encountered. This report presents a case that resulted in significant hematotoxicity. The report introduces the concept that there may be a role for point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an Emergency Department (ED) bedside imaging tool in the early evaluation of crotaline snakebites. Read More

Ultrasound Med Biol 2020 11 20;46(11):2908-2917. Epub 2020 Jul 20.

Respiratory Department, Hospital Guglielmo da Saliceto, Piacenza, Italy.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) is characterized by severe pneumonia and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome in about 20% of infected patients. Computed tomography (CT) is the routine imaging technique for diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 pneumonia. Chest CT has high sensitivity for diagnosis of COVID-19, but is not universally available, requires an infected or unstable patient to be moved to the radiology unit with potential exposure of several people, necessitates proper sanification of the CT room after use and is underutilized in children and pregnant women because of concerns over radiation exposure. Read More

J Surg Res 2020 12 13;256:520-527. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.

Background: Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries. Improved health care systems and training are potential avenues to combat this burden. We detail a collaborative and context-specific operative trauma course taught to postgraduate surgical trainees practicing in a low-resource setting and examine its effect on resident practice. Read More

Chin J Traumatol 2020 Oct 7;23(5):280-283. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

College of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Medicine of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address:

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy and efficiency of bedside ultrasonography application performed by certified sonographer in emergency patients with blunt abdominal trauma.

Methods: The study was carried out from 2017 to 2019. Findings in operations or on computed tomography (CT) were used as references to evaluate the accuracy of bedside abdominal ultrasonography. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2020 07 23;7:CD013031. Epub 2020 Jul 23.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Background: Chest X-ray (CXR) is a longstanding method for the diagnosis of pneumothorax but chest ultrasonography (CUS) may be a safer, more rapid, and more accurate modality in trauma patients at the bedside that does not expose the patient to ionizing radiation. This may lead to improved and expedited management of traumatic pneumothorax and improved patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasonography (CUS) by frontline non-radiologist physicians versus chest X-ray (CXR) for diagnosis of pneumothorax in trauma patients in the emergency department (ED). Read More

Lasers Med Sci 2021 Feb 18;36(1):67-73. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Department of Urology, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, 161 Xingfu Road, Lianyungang, 222023, Jiangsu, China.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 980-nm diode laser coagulation in women with radiation-induced hemorrhagic cystitis (RHC). We conducted a retrospective study of 21 RHC patients treated with a 980-nm diode laser between July 2014 and December 2017 at our institution. Data was collected with regard to age, sex, lower urinary tract symptoms, use of transfusions, a drop in hemoglobin levels, indication of radiotherapy, median time between radiation therapy and presentation, previous treatments, operative time, mean energy used, number of coagulated areas, catheterization time, discharge time after treatment, hospital stay, and surgical outcome. Read More

J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2020 07;89(1):96-102

From the Stony Brook University Hospital (D.N.O., S.R.), School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine (S.A.), Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York; Department of Biostatistics (E.T.), Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, New York; and Division of Trauma, Department of Medicine (E.H., J.A.V., R.S.J.), Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.

Background: Rib fractures following blunt trauma are a major cause of morbidity. Various factors have been used for risk stratification for complications. Ultrasound (US) measurements of diaphragm thickness (Tdi) and related measures such as thickening fraction (TF) have been verified for use in the evaluation of diaphragm function. Read More

J Emerg Med 2020 May 31;58(5):781-784. Epub 2020 Mar 31.

Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

Background: Pseudoaneurysms of the foot are rare and can occur from a range of etiologies, including laceration from a foreign body. The majority of reported cases have been diagnosed by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or angiography. These tests require intravenous access and contrast, confer radiation, take time to perform and interpret, are expensive, and are not always readily available in the acute setting. Read More

Heart 2020 05 11;106(9):639-646. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pericardial Diseases, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States

This review article is focused on the role of echocardiography, cardiac CT and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in diagnosing and managing patients with post-cardiac injury syndrome (PCIS). Clinically, the spectrum of pericardial diseases under PCIS varies not only in form and severity of presentation but also in the timing varying from weeks to months, thus making it difficult to diagnose. Pericarditis developing after recent or remote myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery or ablation if left untreated or under-treated could worsen into complicated pericarditis which can lead to decreased quality of life and increased morbidity. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2020 Jun;36(6):e340-e342

From the Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate live-stream videos for evaluation of pediatric emergency medicine ultrasound using a third generation (3G) network.

Methods: The interrater reliability of a remote 3G network live-streaming assessment of ultrasound scans for abdominal free fluid, intussusception, and hip effusions was evaluated. Fifty-eight deidentified 6-second video clips in . Read More

J Wound Care 2019 Dec;28(Sup12):S9-S16

Division of Nursing, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.

Objective: To evaluate the use of an infrared thermography device in assessing skin temperature among category I pressure ulcer (PU) and/or suspected deep tissue injuries (SDTI) with intact skin.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study design was used. Adult inpatients (cases) who had a category I PU or suspected deep tissue injury (skin intact) on the sacral or heel during the study period (March to April 2018) were recruited. Read More

Ann Intern Med 2019 12 19;171(12):896-905. Epub 2019 Nov 19.

McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (N.S., K.Y., Q.Z., T.R., S.F., E.P., A.H., L.B., S.A.A.).

Background: Optic nerve ultrasonography (optic nerve sheath diameter sonography) has been proposed as a noninvasive, quick method for diagnosing increased intracranial pressure.

Purpose: To examine the accuracy of optic nerve ultrasonography for diagnosing increased intracranial pressure in children and adults.

Data Sources: 13 databases from inception through May 2019, reference lists, and meeting proceedings. Read More

Adv Emerg Nurs J 2019 Oct/Dec;41(4):290-305

University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, Florida. (Drs González, Ortega, Crenshaw, de Tantillo); and Jacksonville University, Keigwin School of Nursing, Jacksonville, Florida (Dr de Tantillo).

Use of bedside ultrasonography to identify life-threatening injuries for patients with blunt and penetrating trauma is the standard of care in the emergency department. The "FAST" examination-focused assessment with sonography for trauma-ultrasound scan of the chest and abdomen allows clinicians to assess critical regions for free fluid without use of invasive procedures as quickly and as often as needed. In addition, ultrasonography has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity and is safe during pregnancy. Read More

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Aug 23:1-11. Epub 2019 Aug 23.

1Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Objective: In the search for a reliable, cooperation-independent, noninvasive alternative to invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in children, various approaches have been proposed, but at the present time none are capable of providing fully automated, real-time, calibration-free, continuous and accurate ICP estimates. The authors investigated the feasibility and validity of simultaneously monitored arterial blood pressure (ABP) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) waveforms to derive noninvasive ICP (nICP) estimates.

Methods: Invasive ICP and ABP recordings were collected from 12 pediatric and young adult patients (aged 2-25 years) undergoing such monitoring as part of routine clinical care. Read More

J Nippon Med Sch 2019 Sep 26;86(4):230-235. Epub 2019 Apr 26.

Department of Nephrology, Nippon Medical School.

Background: Patients undergoing dialysis have a high incidence of fracture, and early diagnosis is important. We report seven cases of closed rib or upper-limb fractures diagnosed by bedside ultrasonography during maintenance hemodialysis sessions and describe relevant clinical characteristics.

Case Presentation: We identified seven patients who were injured by falls in their homes. Read More

J Emerg Med 2019 May 10;56(5):536-539. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Awaji Medical Center, Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Background: Although fractures of the sternum are rare in young children, owing to the compliance of the chest wall, these fractures are still possible and require thorough examination. We present a case that emphasizes the usefulness of point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnosis of a pediatric sternal fracture complicated by a subcutaneous abscess.

Case Report: A 5-year-old boy presented with tenderness of the sternum, with diffuse swelling extending bilaterally to the anterior chest wall. Read More

J Intensive Care Med 2020 Oct 4;35(10):1095-1103. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.

Background: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce the need for mechanical ventilation and decrease the duration of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays for patients with a severely compromised respiratory system. This study aims to observe the evolution of lung aeration via lung ultrasound score (LUS) in a chest-injured population who had been treated with HFNC oxygen therapy, and to assess the benefit of the HFNC oxygen therapy in trauma patients.

Methods: A retrospective study examined trauma patients with moderate to severe thoracic injuries who were admitted to the ICU at a tertiary hospital between October 2015 and March 2017. Read More

CJEM 2019 05 2;21(3):395-398. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

*Department of Emergency Medicine,College of Medicine,University of Saskatchewan,Saskatoon,SK.

Objectives: Bedside ultrasound in the emergency department is a common diagnostic tool, especially when evaluating trauma patients. Many trauma patients have blood on their chest and abdomen that may contact the probe during examination. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether occult blood contamination was present on the emergency department ultrasound machine, both after daily use and after use in trauma. Read More

Cardiol Young 2018 Dec 28;28(12):1421-1425. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

4Department of Pediatrics,University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,Houston,TX,USA.

Background: Balloon atrial septostomy is performed in infants with dextro-transposition of the great arteries to improve oxygenation before surgery. It is performed in the catheterisation laboratory with fluoroscopy or at the bedside using echocardiography. It is unclear whether procedural safety and efficacy is superior in one location versus the other, although the bedside procedure may improve resource utilisation and present an opportunity for reducing cost. Read More

J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 8;53(11):2279-2289. Epub 2018 May 8.

Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72202.

Purpose: Pediatric surgeon performed bedside ultrasound (PSPBUS) is a targeted examination that is diagnostic or therapeutic. The aim of this paper is to review literature involving PSPBUS.

Methods: PSPBUS practices reviewed in this paper include central venous catheter placement, physiologic assessment (volume status and echocardiography), hypertrophic pyloric stenosis diagnosis, appendicitis diagnosis, the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST), thoracic evaluation, and soft tissue infection evaluation. Read More

Mil Med 2018 03;183(suppl_1):111-118

Trauma and Injury Prevention, Hackensack Meridian Health, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601.

Objective: To determine if physicians trained in ultrasound interpretation perceive a difference in image quality and usefulness between Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography ultrasound examinations performed at bedside in a hospital vs. by emergency medical technicians minimally trained in medical ultrasound on a moving ambulance and transmitted to the hospital via a novel wireless system. In particular, we sought to demonstrate that useful images could be obtained from patients in less than optimal imaging conditions; that is, while they were in transport. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2018 Mar 16;35(2):e138-e139. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Department of Dermatology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.

A 2-year-old girl presented with a 2-month history of an erythematous, indurated plaque with well-defined borders on the third toe of the right foot. Bedside high-resolution ultrasonography demonstrated a thickened epidermis overlying a hyperechoic focus within the dermis. Her clinical and sonographic presentation was in keeping with a foreign body causing hair-thread tourniquet syndrome. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2020 Sep;36(9):e508-e512

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO.

Background: Unsuccessful lumbar puncture (LP) attempts may lead to epidural hematoma (EH) formation within the spinal canal at the site of needle insertion, which can affect subsequent attempts. We aimed to determine the rate of EH formation after infant LP using bedside ultrasound (US). Furthermore, we aimed to correlate both perceived trauma during LP and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) red blood cell (RBC) counts with EH formation. Read More

J Spec Oper Med Winter 2017;17(4):72-75

Background: Soft-tissue occult foreign bodies are a concerning cause of morbidity in the emergency department. The identification of wooden foreign bodies is a unique challenge because they are often not detectable by plain radiography. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of emergency physician-performed ultrasonography to detect wooden foreign bodies of varying sizes. Read More

Anaesthesiol Intensive Ther 2017;49(5):373-381. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

President of the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment, University of Campinas, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Campinas, Brazil; Severino Sombra University, Post Graduation Program, Vassouras, Brazil.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension is a common complication in critically ill patients. Recently the Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS) developed a medical management algorithm with a stepwise approach according to the evolution of the intra-abdominal pressure and aiming to keep IAP ≤ 15 mm Hg. With the increased use of ultrasound as a bedside modality in both emergency and critical care patients, we hypothesized that ultrasound could be used as an adjuvant point-of-care tool during IAH management. Read More

Brain 2017 Sep;140(9):2399-2414

Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.

See Schiff (doi:10.1093/awx209) for a scientific commentary on this article. Patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury may recover consciousness before self-expression. Read More