From the ‘Sim and Choppers’ blog by Dr Andrew Petrosoniak – a post with links to studies about use of ultrasound ‘M mode’ while in a helicopter, evidence suggesting that we need to scan further down the chest than many protocols suggest, and a fantastic idea for simulating lung ultrasound for training purposes.

Read the post here…      Many thanks Andrew!

Time-motion mode lung ultrasound. (a) Normal lung and (b) pneumothorax patterns using time-motion (M) mode lung ultrasound. In time motion mode, one must first locate the pleural line (white arrow) and, above it, the motionless parietal structures. Below the pleural line, lung sliding appears as a homogenous granular pattern (a). In the case of pneumothorax and absent lung sliding, horizontal lines only are visualised (b). In a patient examined in the supine position with partial pneumothorax, normal lung sliding and absence of lung sliding may coexist in lateral regions of the chest wall. In this boundary region, called the ‘lung point’ (P), lung sliding appears (granular pattern) and disappears (strictly horizontal lines) with inspiration when using the time-motion mode.

Bouhemad et al. Critical Care 2007 11:205   doi:10.1186/cc5668