Bedside Renal Ultrasound for the primary care physician.

Basic concepts of bedside ultrasound have been discussed in two previous articles. The focus of this article is the evaluation of the renal system with bedside ultrasound.

Bedside gallbladder ultrasound for the primary care physician.

Modern ultrasound machines are relatively inexpensive to own and simple to operate. Basic ultrasound exams can be easily learned and mastered. As with any clinical exam skill, practice makes perfect. Providers interested in learning ultrasound should seek hands-on guidance from an expert in the field. There are several quality hands-on ultrasound courses (http:// emergencyultrasound.com/) as well as free online videos (http:// emergency ultrasound teaching.com/index.html). The emergency ultrasound team at UMMC will be offering a hands-on ultrasound training course in the spring of 2015. Please contact Dr Brian Tollefson for specific dates and times of the course (btollefson@umc.edu).

Bedside ultrasound detection of long bone fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid identification of fractures of long bones is prudent, since associated bleeding and neurovascular compromise can cause significant morbidity and mortality. We describe two patients who presented to the Emergency Department with orthopedic trauma and underwent bedside ultrasound of the affected extremity. Ultrasound rapidly revealed fractures in both patients, and led to early treatment and disposition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rapid bedside ultrasound of long bones was performed on affected extremities and compared to X-rays. CONCLUSION: Bedside ultrasonography of long bones is a rapid, reliable, and non-invasive method of evaluating patients with suspected orthopedic trauma.