POCUS in the Critically Ill Pregnant Patient

• POCUS can be a valuable tool in the assessment and management of critically ill pregnant patients.
• Conditions to consider in the critically ill pregnant patient who presents with acute RUQ pain include acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), liver infarction, liver hematoma, and Budd-Chiari Syndrome.
• POCUS findings for these conditions include:
  • AFLP: a "bright" liver
  • Infarction: a wedge-shaped hypoechoic area (late finding)
  • Hematoma: a heterogeneous fluid collection below the capsule or intraparenchymal
  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome: lack of blood flow or thrombus in a hepatic vein or within the IVC.

References

Blanco P, Abdo-Cuza A. Point-of-care ultrasound in the critically ill pregnant or postpartum patient: what every intensivist should know. Intensive Care Med. 2019; epub ahead of print.