Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound Edited by Stephanie J.Doniger, MD. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013; 357 pp; $123 (hardcover).

Abstract

Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound is a practical, hardcover book that reviews the essentials of performing point-of-care ultrasound (US) in the pediatric population. This book is divided into four sections: ultrasound fundamentals, diagnostics ultrasound, procedural ultrasound, and special populations. The first section reviews the basics in understanding the physics and “knobology” of US. The section reviews the basic controls and the artifacts one needs to be familiar with to obtain appropriate images. The US images in this section demonstrate clearly the different types of artifacts. I believe the highlight of this book is the second section: diagnostic US. This is reason to buy this book. It takes the reader step by step through obtaining images for point-of-care US examinations. It begins with the basic technique to obtain the images for a study. It goes over the patient positioning and preparation with text and accompanying images. The section is divided into chapters, and each chapter reviews a different US study. The chapter begins with the objectives and indications of the examination, proceeds to point-of-care questions that could be answered, and follows with the views that need to be obtained. With each view, not only is there concise and clear text to educate the reader, there is also an image of where the transducer should be placed, an illustration of the transducer placement and relevant anatomy, and US images of normal anatomy with important structures highlighted for easy understanding. This is a great tool to help the beginner in ultrasonography understand the involved technique and anatomy. Each chapter has a list of pitfalls of scanning and tips to improve scanning of that particular examination. Finally, each chapter ends with cases of how this examination would be helpful and what to be looking for. This thoroughness is done for each of the different type of examinations including FAST, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, abdomen, ocular, hepatobiliary, testicular, and gynecology/obstetrics. An example of the pitfall/tips in the chapter on FAST: “in delayed presentation of trauma, clotted blood may appear hyperechoic … perinephric fat can sometimes mimic free fluid collection, if in doubt, compare the two sides … placing the patient in 10 degrees Trendelenburg position will increase the sensitivity of detecting free fluid at Morison's pouch.” The third section focuses on procedural US. Each chapter reviews a different procedure, including vascular access, suprapubic aspiration, lumbar puncture, and peripheral nerve blocks, to name just a few. The setup of the chapters is similar to that of the diagnostic US. The abundant illustrations and images make the procedures easy to follow and easy to learn. The detailing of technique, the positioning, and landmarks all make this book a must to have. Last, there is the section on Special Populations, which includes the neonatal period. It reviews useful US examinations in the neonatal period, including for umbilical line placement and cranial US. Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound is a concise and comprehensive US book for the provider who treats children. I highly recommend this book to the provider first learning to perform US examinations and also to the seasoned provider. The outstanding illustrations with easy to comprehend text makes this book a must-have study aid.