Principles of emergency ultrasound and echocardiography

Abstract

Ultrasound is a form of imaging that addresses many needs in emergency medicine. It is fast, accurate, safe, noninvasive, and painless. It rapidly diagnoses immediately life-threatening conditions and reduces the number of invasive or delayed diagnostic methods. However, successful imaging requires an understanding of ultrasonic principles. The physical principles of ultrasound imaging with emphasis on its limitations and the benefits of emergency echocardiography are highlighted.