Table 1.
Focused transthoracic echocardiography assessment.10
| Question being asked | Diagnosis |
|---|---|
| Is there ventricular activity? | Confirmation of cardiac arrest |
| Are the ventricles grossly dilated? | Myocardial insufficiency |
| Is there adequate ventricular function? | |
| Are there regional wall motion abnormalities? | Myocardial ischaemia |
| Is the right ventricle dilated? | Pulmonary embolism |
| Is the IVC fixed and dilated? | |
| Is the left ventricle underfilled? | Hypovolaemia |
| Is the IVC collapsing on inspiration? | |
| Is there a pericardial effusion? | Pericardial effusion |
| Are there signs of tamponade? |
IVC, inferior vena cava.