Research by Yiju Teresa Liu, M.D., assistant professor of emergency medicine, and Kathleen Calabrese, M.D., adjunct instructor of emergency medicine, was recently featured by Medscape Medical News. Their research, presented at the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 2013 Annual Convention, suggests that bedside ultrasound imaging could potentially replace the standard chest x-ray for the confirmation of central venous catheter placement. With the proper line placement, Liu and Calabrese say that a saline flush can be seen on an ultrasound. Their ultrasound results were in 100 percent agreement with chest x-ray for catheter placement.
The study was a multi-disciplinary effort. Liu and Calabrese collaborated with colleagues Jeff Berger, M.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine, and Jaleel Ahari, M.D., assistant professor of medicine.
