Ultrasound

24 hours / 7 days a week

Clinical Pathway

Safety

There are no known safety concerns for the use of diagnostic ultrasound at the mechanical indices the point of care machines operate at. This includes the context of scanning a pregnant patient should it arise.

The mechanical index (power setting) should be maintained at the lowest reasonable value to obtain a meaningful diagnostic image in keeping with the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principles.

Indications

The indications for use are left at the discretion of the operator and are wide ranging.

Broadly speaking use cases cover

• Diagnosis and surveillance of conditions of sonographically accessible viscera, connective tissues and blood vessels throughout the body

• Guidance of percutaneous interventional procedures to improve accuracy

Standard Operating Protocol

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) concerns the use of ultrasound in a clinical setting by trained medical professionals (though not usually sonographers or radiologists in this context). POCUS should only be carried out by a trained professional confident and competent in its use.

Sonographer / Radiologist Ultrasound

Ultrasound performed by Sonographer/Radiologist will only be available for investigation and diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Examinations should be requested via ICE. Examinations will be performed within 2 working days. The service will only be available Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, and will be provided by an outreach service from Harrogate District Hospital.

Radiologists would however be available by telephone to offer both training sessions for Intensive Care doctors and also supervision and advice.