Abdominal Ultrasound

Abdominal Ultrasound (US) is used in clinical practice to diagnose a multitude of pathologies. It is used to evaluate the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, appendix, kidney, bladder, aorta and the uterus. The Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exam first introduced in the 1970s is still an integral part of the examination of trauma patients in the (Emergency Department) ED. Newer applications such as the use of ultrasound to image the stomach to assess gastric contents prior to surgery are emerging. Easy availability, lack of adverse effects and quick results has made it an important tool for physicians to diagnose acute abdominal diseases and provide prompt management. In this chapter we provide a wide array of questions focused on principles of US for the abdomen and interpretation of ultrasound images of common abdominal pathologies.