Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Quiz- Case 08

75 yr old male. Sudden onset epigastric and back pain. Shocked, diaphoretic, ashen

Vertical calliper placement in a transverse view is the best measurement modality because it avoids the effect called ‘lateral smearing’, which decreases with depth.
Horizontal calliper placement in the transverse view is the best measurement modality because it avoids the potential to slice obliquely through the aorta, inadvertently increasing the apparent vertical diameter.
The colour flow in the lower aorta shows as red because the blood is flowing rapidly.
Spectral Doppler demonstrates the flow in the aorta to be 40cm/sec and can be used to judge cardiac output.
The measurement errors mentioned in answers (a) and (b) are too small to be relevant for the purpose of Point of care ultrasound of the aorta.

That is Case 08 completed – to move on to Case 09 ~ click here