Ultrasound: Part 1
Preface
Teresa S. Wu, MD, FACEP Editor
Over the last few decades, we have witnessed the emergence, acceptance, and utilization of one of the greatest tools in modern medicine. Although the physics of ultrasound was first described in the late 1700s, it wasn’t until the late 1980s when ultrasound began to surface as a practical and useful tool in the assessment and management of patients. Pioneers in the field of point-of-care ultrasound faced open opposition and disparagement when the concept of bedside ultrasonography was first introduced, and lack of interdisciplinary collaboration delayed its inevitable implementation into the various realms of medical practice. We have now entered into an era where ultrasound has become one of the most invaluable tools in imaging and assessing patients. Almost every medical and surgical specialty is using point-of-care ultrasound for procedural guidance, patient assessment, characterization, and diagnosis. Medical students are being introduced to ultrasound in their pre-clinical years, residents from all different specialties are learning how to integrate point-of-care ultrasound into their clinical practice, and fellows are training in advanced ultrasound applications and technologies all over the world. With its ability to provide real-time, dynamic data in a quick and noninvasive manner at the patient’s bedside, it is no wonder that ultrasound has effectively become integrated into all aspects of medicine. The full scope and benefits of point-of-care ultrasonography have grown to such an extent that no single issue of Critical Care Clinics can fully address the topic in the detail and manner to which it deserves to be covered. What we hope to do with the two full issues dedicated to ultrasound is to introduce and discuss the most popular and influential ultrasound applications that are currently being employed, and to provide readers with the requisite knowledge and proficiency required to use it in their daily practice. We are extremely grateful to the many experts who have contributed to the comprehensive and informative articles that are included in the two ultrasound issues of Critical Care Clinics, and we have the sincerest appreciation for the members of the editorial board that have worked so hard to bring this publication to fruition. I hope that our overview of point-of-care ultrasonography serves as a launching pad for further reading and research and inspires all that read it to go out and learn how to use ultrasound to help their patients.
Crit Care Clin 30 (2014) ix–x http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2013.10.001 criticalcare.theclinics.com 0749-0704/14/$ – see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Preface
This edition of Critical Care Clinics is dedicated to all of my mentors and educators who have instilled in me the knowledge, passion, and dedication to advance medical education and improve patient care and to all of my students, residents, and fellows, who continue to challenge and inspire me with their eagerness to learn and willingness to be taught. To Dr Richard Carlson who had the insight and foresight to support global, multi-disciplinary education about point-of-care ultrasound. To my mother, Phyllis Wu, whose sacrifices and guidance have enabled me to pursue my dreams and be the educator and physician I am today. And, finally, to my husband, Thomas Pearson, and my wonderful children, Kai and Kenna, whose love, laughter, and support have made all things possible. Teresa S. Wu, MD, FACEP Department of Emergency Medicine Maricopa Medical Center University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix 2601 East Roosevelt Street Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA E-mail address: [email protected]
Preface
Teresa S. Wu, MD, FACEP Editor
Over the last few decades, we have witnessed the emergence, acceptance, and utilization of one of the greatest tools in modern medicine. Although the physics of ultrasound was first described in the late 1700s, it wasn’t until the late 1980s when ultrasound began to surface as a practical and useful tool in the assessment and management of patients. Pioneers in the field of point-of-care ultrasound faced open opposition and disparagement when the concept of bedside ultrasonography was first introduced, and lack of interdisciplinary collaboration delayed its inevitable implementation into the various realms of medical practice. We have now entered into an era where ultrasound has become one of the most invaluable tools in imaging and assessing patients. Almost every medical and surgical specialty is using point-of-care ultrasound for procedural guidance, patient assessment, characterization, and diagnosis. Medical students are being introduced to ultrasound in their pre-clinical years, residents from all different specialties are learning how to integrate point-of-care ultrasound into their clinical practice, and fellows are training in advanced ultrasound applications and technologies all over the world. With its ability to provide real-time, dynamic data in a quick and noninvasive manner at the patient’s bedside, it is no wonder that ultrasound has effectively become integrated into all aspects of medicine. The full scope and benefits of point-of-care ultrasonography have grown to such an extent that no single issue of Critical Care Clinics can fully address the topic in the detail and manner to which it deserves to be covered. What we hope to do with the two full issues dedicated to ultrasound is to introduce and discuss the most popular and influential ultrasound applications that are currently being employed, and to provide readers with the requisite knowledge and proficiency required to use it in their daily practice. We are extremely grateful to the many experts who have contributed to the comprehensive and informative articles that are included in the two ultrasound issues of Critical Care Clinics, and we have the sincerest appreciation for the members of the editorial board that have worked so hard to bring this publication to fruition. I hope that our overview of point-of-care ultrasonography serves as a launching pad for further reading and research and inspires all that read it to go out and learn how to use ultrasound to help their patients.
Crit Care Clin 30 (2014) ix–x http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2013.10.001 criticalcare.theclinics.com 0749-0704/14/$ – see front matter Ó 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
x
Preface
This edition of Critical Care Clinics is dedicated to all of my mentors and educators who have instilled in me the knowledge, passion, and dedication to advance medical education and improve patient care and to all of my students, residents, and fellows, who continue to challenge and inspire me with their eagerness to learn and willingness to be taught. To Dr Richard Carlson who had the insight and foresight to support global, multi-disciplinary education about point-of-care ultrasound. To my mother, Phyllis Wu, whose sacrifices and guidance have enabled me to pursue my dreams and be the educator and physician I am today. And, finally, to my husband, Thomas Pearson, and my wonderful children, Kai and Kenna, whose love, laughter, and support have made all things possible. Teresa S. Wu, MD, FACEP Department of Emergency Medicine Maricopa Medical Center University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix 2601 East Roosevelt Street Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA E-mail address: [email protected]
