How to Scan the Abdominal Aorta with Ultrasound

This video demonstrates a scan of the abdominal aorta using handheld ultrasound.
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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Scanning the abdomen in the transverse view
00:45 - How to conduct an ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta
1:09 - View the imaging screen in more depth and identify the abdominal aorta
1:58 - Position the transducer more caudally to view other structures
2:56 - Continue the exam of the abdominal aorta
3:18 - Tilt the transducer to view the IVC
3:32 - The longitudinal view of the abdominal aorta

To obtain an accurate scan of the abdominal aorta, start with the patient in a supine position with knees flexed to release the tension of the rectus muscle. Use a phased array probe and start in the transverse view. The mark of this probe should point to the right-hand side of the patient.

Start by scanning the abdominal aorta just below the xiphoid area. That's the area where the thoracic aorta is passing through the diaphragmatic hiatus into the abdominal area.

The first landmarks that you'll see in the ultrasound imaging is the left liver lobe. On the left-hand side of the screen, you'll see the IVC. On the right-hand side of the screen, the black structure is the abdominal aorta. The center of the screen is the spine. You can also clearly differentiate the IVC from the abdominal aorta by looking at the respiratory changes of the patient's breathing.

The video then walks through a scan moving the transducer from the xiphoid area in the transverse direction more caudally. The first vessel that is leaving the aorta is the celiac trunk. And moving even more caudally, the next vessel that you'll see is the superior mesenteric artery. And if you move even more caudally by still realizing all the other structures, the IVC, the human spine, you may see the renal arteries leaving on both sides, laterally of the abdominal aorta.

The video then looks at the longitudinal view. The first landmark that you'll see by tilting the probe slowly to the midline of the patient is the abdominal aorta.

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Learn more about GE Healthcare handheld ultrasound: