The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies
Background: A key issue in abdominal US is the assessment of fluid, which is usually anechoic, thus appearing “black”. Our approach focuses on searching for fluid in non-traumatic patients, providing a new, simplified method for point-of-care US (POCUS). Objective: Fluid assessment is based on a thr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Tomography |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/8/2/66 |
| _version_ | 1827626466532130816 |
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| author | Stefania Tamburrini Letizia Consoli Marco Garrone Giuseppe Sfuncia Marina Lugarà Maria Gabriella Coppola Miryam Piccirillo Roberta Toto Salvatore Massimo Stella Soccorsa Sofia Mario Scuderi Orlando Catalano |
| author_facet | Stefania Tamburrini Letizia Consoli Marco Garrone Giuseppe Sfuncia Marina Lugarà Maria Gabriella Coppola Miryam Piccirillo Roberta Toto Salvatore Massimo Stella Soccorsa Sofia Mario Scuderi Orlando Catalano |
| author_sort | Stefania Tamburrini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: A key issue in abdominal US is the assessment of fluid, which is usually anechoic, thus appearing “black”. Our approach focuses on searching for fluid in non-traumatic patients, providing a new, simplified method for point-of-care US (POCUS). Objective: Fluid assessment is based on a three-step analysis that we can thus summarize. 1. Look for black where it should not be. This means searching for effusions or collections. 2. Check if black is too much. This means evaluating anatomical landmarks where fluid should normally be present but may be abnormally abundant. 3. Look for black that is not clearly black. This means evaluating fluid aspects, whether wholly anechoic or not (suggesting heterogeneous or corpusculated fluid). Discussion: Using this simple method focused on US fluid presence and appearance should help clinicians to make a timely diagnosis. Although our simplified, systematic algorithm of POCUS may identify abnormalities; this usually entails a second-level imaging. An accurate knowledge of the physio–pathological and anatomical ultrasound bases remains essential in applying this algorithm. Conclusion: The black pattern approach in non -traumatic emergencies may be applied to a broad spectrum of abnormalities. It may represent a valuable aid for emergency physicians, especially if inexperienced, involved in a variety of non-traumatic scenarios. It may also be a simple and effective teaching aid for US beginners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:56:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9aa93f9df91a4fc78c24a148f2d4343d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2379-1381 2379-139X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:56:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tomography |
| spelling | doaj.art-9aa93f9df91a4fc78c24a148f2d4343d2023-11-30T22:00:26ZengMDPI AGTomography2379-13812379-139X2022-03-018279881410.3390/tomography8020066The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal EmergenciesStefania Tamburrini0Letizia Consoli1Marco Garrone2Giuseppe Sfuncia3Marina Lugarà4Maria Gabriella Coppola5Miryam Piccirillo6Roberta Toto7Salvatore Massimo Stella8Soccorsa Sofia9Mario Scuderi10Orlando Catalano11Department of Radiology, Ospedale del Mare-Asl NA1 Centro, Via Enrico Russo, 11, 80147 Napoli, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Via Bissolati 57, 25124 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, A.O. Mauriziano, Largo Filippo Turati, 62, 10128 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Ospedale santi Giovanni e Paolo, Sestriere Castello, 6777, 30122 Venezia, ItalyAdvanced Emergency Ultrasound SIUMB School, 80147 Naples, ItalyAdvanced Emergency Ultrasound SIUMB School, 80147 Naples, ItalyAdvanced Emergency Ultrasound SIUMB School, 80147 Naples, ItalyAdvanced Emergency Ultrasound SIUMB School, 80147 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Santa Chiara University Hospital, Via Roma, 67, 56100 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Ospedale Maggiore-C. A. Pizzardi, Largo Nigrisoli, 2, 40133 Bologna, ItalyPoliclinico Morgagni, Via del Bosco, 105, 95125 Catania, ItalyAdvanced Emergency Ultrasound SIUMB School, 80147 Naples, ItalyBackground: A key issue in abdominal US is the assessment of fluid, which is usually anechoic, thus appearing “black”. Our approach focuses on searching for fluid in non-traumatic patients, providing a new, simplified method for point-of-care US (POCUS). Objective: Fluid assessment is based on a three-step analysis that we can thus summarize. 1. Look for black where it should not be. This means searching for effusions or collections. 2. Check if black is too much. This means evaluating anatomical landmarks where fluid should normally be present but may be abnormally abundant. 3. Look for black that is not clearly black. This means evaluating fluid aspects, whether wholly anechoic or not (suggesting heterogeneous or corpusculated fluid). Discussion: Using this simple method focused on US fluid presence and appearance should help clinicians to make a timely diagnosis. Although our simplified, systematic algorithm of POCUS may identify abnormalities; this usually entails a second-level imaging. An accurate knowledge of the physio–pathological and anatomical ultrasound bases remains essential in applying this algorithm. Conclusion: The black pattern approach in non -traumatic emergencies may be applied to a broad spectrum of abnormalities. It may represent a valuable aid for emergency physicians, especially if inexperienced, involved in a variety of non-traumatic scenarios. It may also be a simple and effective teaching aid for US beginners.https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/8/2/66emergency ultrasoundabdominal ultrasoundultrasoundabdomenemergency |
| spellingShingle | Stefania Tamburrini Letizia Consoli Marco Garrone Giuseppe Sfuncia Marina Lugarà Maria Gabriella Coppola Miryam Piccirillo Roberta Toto Salvatore Massimo Stella Soccorsa Sofia Mario Scuderi Orlando Catalano The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies Tomography emergency ultrasound abdominal ultrasound ultrasound abdomen emergency |
| title | The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies |
| title_full | The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies |
| title_fullStr | The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies |
| title_full_unstemmed | The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies |
| title_short | The “Black Pattern”, a Simplified Ultrasound Approach to Non-Traumatic Abdominal Emergencies |
| title_sort | black pattern a simplified ultrasound approach to non traumatic abdominal emergencies |
| topic | emergency ultrasound abdominal ultrasound ultrasound abdomen emergency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2379-139X/8/2/66 |
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