Last Updated on May 6, 2022
Preparation
Patient’s position: supine
Preset: cardiac
Probe: Sector probe, B mode
Indications / Uses
• Cardiac tamponate
• Massive acute pulmonary embolism
• Estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction
4 Standard Cardiac Views
• Parasternal long axis: 2 – 4th left intercostal space just next to sternum
• Parasternal short axis (parallel to long axis of left ventricle): rotate 90 degrees clockwise from parasternal long axis to get parasternal short axis view
• Apical 4 chamber view: place probe at apex beat, tilt probe toward right shoulder
• Subcostal/Subxiphoid 4 chamber view (as per FAST scan protocol)
Apical 4-chamber view
• Probe: short parasternal axis
• Left ventricle: conical shape; thick wall; larger than right ventricle
• Right ventricle: semilunar shape; 2/3 size of left ventricle
• Use: LV / RV dysfunction; pericardial collection of fluid; contractility of LV / RV