ONE step you can take TODAY! Control Respiratory Drift: Take a look at any 2D clip (Apical and Subcostals work well) on a few of your recent cases. Do you see any noticeable differences in the way the heart looks between two or three beats on the same clip on the same patient? That is most likely due to respiratory drift! Managing this problem can save your reader countless headaches and increase your professional profile. Try this today: Prior to ‘grabbing’ your clip, ask your patient to slowly take a breath in just until you see a beautiful, on axis image. Then tell them to hold right there. If your system clips from a prospective mode, hit your clip button. Once you have the required amount of cycles (typically 2 for non arrhythmia cases and dependent on your institutions preferences), click Store (if required on your system). In retrospective mode, wait until the required cycles are achieved and then hit your clip button. Share with me how you will start this One step today! If you are already practicing this technique, let us know! The subcostal clip above is a great example of Controlling Respiratory Drift!
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 12:03:14 +0000