Cardiac FOCUS - Indication
1. Essence of the Milestone
This is the first step along the PoCUS Continnum; and just like any other PoCUS techniques, Cardiac FOCUS proceeds along this continuum as well.
This is the first step along the PoCUS Continnum; and just like any other PoCUS techniques, Cardiac FOCUS proceeds along this continuum as well.
The underlying principle of is the following:
1. What is the clinical question?
2. Can FOCUS results provide you with the answer to the question that you have posed?
3. Will the FOCUS results affect your decision, now?
1. What is the clinical question?
- What is it that you want to ask?
2. Can FOCUS results provide you with the answer to the question that you have posed?
- FOCUS may not be able do so whether it be because of the limitations posed by the operator's skills, machinery, or setting.
3. Will the FOCUS results affect your decision, now?
- FOCUS takes time and manpower to perform (resources) even though it is rather quick. If the FOCUS findings will not affect what you do, now, might as well await for a comprehensive study with Echocardiography.
2. Common FOCUS Questions
1. Shock mechanism elucidation: "What type of shock is this patient in?"
2. Respiratory failure attribution: "Is this patient in CHF or AECOPD?"
3. Clinical findings verification: "There is a high JVP. Is there a pericardial effusion, or enlarged RV?"
1. Shock mechanism elucidation: "What type of shock is this patient in?"
2. Respiratory failure attribution: "Is this patient in CHF or AECOPD?"
3. Clinical findings verification: "There is a high JVP. Is there a pericardial effusion, or enlarged RV?"
Take Home Messages:
- Before you perform a FOCUS:
- What is the clinical question you have?
- Can FOCUS answer the question that you have posed?
- Would it affect your management decision, NOW?