THE CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA
The RUSH Exam: Rapid Ultrasound in SHock
in the Evaluation of the Critically Ill
Perera P et al. Ultrasound Clin 7 (2012) 255–278
"Care of the patient with shock can be one of the most challenging issues in emergency medicine. Even the most seasoned clinician, standing at the bedside of the patient in extremis, can be unclear about the cause of shock and the optimal initial therapeutic approach. Traditional physical examination techniques can be misleading given the complex physiology of shock. Patients in shock have high mortality rates, and these rates are correlated to the amount and duration of hypotension. Therefore, diagnosis and initial care must be accurate and prompt to optimize patient outcomes. Failure to make the correct diagnosis and act appropriately can lead to potentially disastrous outcomes and high-risk situations" ..."Studies have demonstrated that initial integration of bedside ultrasound into the evaluation of the patient with shock results in a more accurate initial diagnosis with an improved patient care plan. Instead of relying on older techniques, like listening for changes in sound coming from the patient’s body suggestive of specific pathology, bedside ultrasound now allows direct visualization of pathology or abnormal physiological states. Thus, bedside ultrasound has become an essential component in the evaluation of the hypotensive patients"