Curry Chapter 4: Scanning the Aorta

Question 1

How long should the patient fast before scanning the abdominal aorta?

Answer 1

At least 8 hours.

Question 2

What does fasting accomplish before scanning the abdominal aorta?

Answer 2

Fasting schould help reduce the amount of gas in the overlying bowel, which can obscure visualization of portions of the aorta.

Question 3

If the patient has eaten anyway, what do you do?

Answer 3

Still attempt the scan on the chance of still being able to visualize the aorta.

Question 4

What is the best body position for the patient to be in to visualize the abdominal aorta?

Answer 4

Supine position, where the patient is laying flat on their back.

Question 5

Alternative positions for scanning the abdominal aorta?

Answer 5

Right or left lateral decubitus,
Right or left posterior oblique,
Sitting semi-erect or erect.

Question 6

What type of transducer would you use to scan the abdominal aorta?

Answer 6

Since the abdominal aorta is one of the deepest structures in the body, using a transducer with a lower-number MHz.
Usually 3.0 MHz or 3.5 MHz, unless the patient is very thin than 5.0MHz is the best choice.

Question 7

Deep inspiration forces the diaphragm and everything below it in the abdomen to move…….

Answer 7

Down

Question 8

Deep exhalation forces the diaphragm and everything below it in the abdomen to move…..

Answer 8

Up.

Question 9

What is the suggested breathing technique for scanning the abdominal aorta?

Answer 9

Normal respiration, unless it causes too much movement, then you can ask your patient to momentarily hold breath.

Question 10

How should you begin the scanning survey of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 10

Usually beginning longitudinally from an anterior (transabdominal) approach in the sagittal scanning plane.
Can alternatively be scanned from a left lateral approach in the coronal scanning plane.