Ultrasound Guidance Flashcards
7 cards from real VABC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ultrasound Guidance flashcards as text
Which ultrasound view is preferred when initially confirming guidewire position in the vessel before dilation?
Answer: Long-axis (longitudinal) view
The long-axis view allows visualization of the guidewire along its entire length within the vessel, confirming intraluminal placement before dilation.
What artifact appears as a bright echogenic line with posterior acoustic shadowing when the ultrasound beam strikes a needle at 90 degrees?
Answer: Specular reflection
Specular reflection occurs when the ultrasound beam strikes a smooth surface (such as a needle) perpendicularly, producing a bright echogenic interface with acoustic shadowing.
During ultrasound-guided PICC insertion, the basilic vein is preferred over the cephalic vein primarily because:
Answer: It has a larger diameter and fewer valves
The basilic vein is typically larger in diameter and has fewer valves than the cephalic vein, reducing resistance during catheter advancement.
What is the primary purpose of applying color Doppler during ultrasound-guided vascular access?
Answer: To differentiate artery from vein
Color Doppler detects blood flow direction and pulsatility, reliably distinguishing arterial (pulsatile) from venous (continuous or respiratory-phasic) flow.
When using the short-axis approach for internal jugular vein cannulation, inadvertent arterial puncture is most commonly detected by:
Answer: Bright red, pulsatile blood flashback in the syringe
Pulsatile bright red blood return in the syringe is the classic indicator of unintentional arterial puncture during internal jugular cannulation.
Which maneuver can increase the diameter of the internal jugular vein to facilitate ultrasound-guided cannulation?
Answer: Placing the patient in Trendelenburg position
Trendelenburg (head-down) positioning increases venous return and distends the internal jugular vein, making it a larger and easier target.
In ultrasound imaging, 'anisotropy' of a vessel wall or tendon refers to:
Answer: Change in echogenicity depending on the angle of the ultrasound beam
Anisotropy is the phenomenon where tissue echogenicity changes with beam angle, most notable in tendons and can cause vessels to appear falsely echogenic when not insonated perpendicularly.