Basic Applications : Female Pelvis – Scanning Techniques — YouTube Video From Westernsono

Basic Applications : Female Pelvis – Scanning Techniques — YouTube Video From Westernsono. 25:58, June 30, 2013.

This video focuses on techniques for the ultrasound examination of the uterus. See Additional Resources for a link to a YouTube video on exam of the ovaries.

What follows are some important pointers from video:

There is a common approach to Point of Care Ultrasound.

The Anatomic Landmark is where to place the probe on the patient’s body when beginning the scan.

The Sonographic Landmark is  an identifiable structure on the screen the tells you that you’re at the right location to begin looking for your area of interest.

The area of interest is the target the study in the area you were looking to evaluate for positive or negative findings.

As a simplified reminder when you begin scanning in basic applications the area
of interest is always white and it should be found before any interpretations are made about what you see on screen.

When we apply this approach to the bedside female pelvic study we see the anatomical landmark is the symphysis [We place the probe on the symphysis]. (This will not be applicable to the trans vaginal scan as we’ll see shortly.)

The sonographic  landmark is the bladder.

And our area of interest is the endometrial stripe which will be white in

In this case the uterus is not really adequate to define our area of interest, rather we’re specifically looking for the middle of the uterus. the location of the endometrial canal. It is here that we should be looking for sonographic evidence of pregnancy. If you’re sure to find the middle of the uterus before you even think about looking for these findings of pregnancy you always be safe.

We cannot emphasize how distracting it can be to see a fetus on the screen.

Without  acareful methodical approach, it’ll be too easy to misidentify the obvious pregnancy as being a normal pregnancy when in fact is not in the center of the uterus.

So find the white endometrial stripe first.

Additional Resources:

How To Find The Ovaries on Pelvic Ultrasound–A YouTube Video From Gulf Coast Ultrasound
Posted on June 4, 2015 by Tom Wade MD

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