MAIN PRODUCTIONS OF CEURF
1) A philosophy. The use of ultrasound, devoid of any sophistication coming from the various specialties (radiologists, cardiologists, gynecologists...). This use, devoted to the critical ill patient, who needs immediate diagnosis and immediate care. This definition of critical ultrasound, created since 1986 (officially in 1989 in the medical ICU of François Jardin), does not exclude the radiologist, but invites thinking that the intensivist (or emergency physician) is at the ideal place for making the patient benefit from this visual medicine.
This philosophy favors simple signs, simple applications and mostly simple equipment.
2) A textbook - Whole Body Ultrasound in the Critically Ill, published at Springer-Verlag in 1992, 2002, 2005 and 2010.
This textbook is the scientifical basis of the CEURF approach. It explains why the authors do not look at the growing laptop market, nor at the usual probes, nor at the usual facilities (Doppler, harmonics...).
3) A series of articles validating bedside applications. Here are some (*** = published in international peer-reviewed literature) (* = abstract or communication in congress).
*** - detecting radio-occult lung disorders which can benefit from immediate therapy in ARDS (PneumoMthorax, pleural effusion, atelectasis...)
*** - withdrawing without any risk pleural effusion in ventilated patient, even under positive pressure, even with no radiological sign
*** - recognizing in a few minutes, in an acute respiratory failure, profiles of acute pulmonary edema, pneumonia, exacerbated COPD, PneumoMthorax, pulmonary embolism, massive pleural effusion...
*** - recognizing cardiogenic pulmonary edema in spite of poor cardiac windows
*** - make in a few minutes a sequential analysis of a circulatory instability, with detection and immediate therapy of : pericardial tamponade - pulmonary embolism - cardiogenic shock - hypovolemic shock - septic shock, waiting (or in substitution to) implementatino of the traditional tools (Swan-Ganz, TEE, PICCO...). The CEURF method is free from all drawbacks of these methods: invasiveness, control of West zone, factors altering value of data...
- make the patient benefit from a simple cardiac approach, allowing immediate knowledge of left ventricular systolic function, right ventricle volume, presnece of excessive pericardial fluid.
*** - detect one lung intubation (without radiography, for exemple in pregnant woman)
*** - in ICU patient with fever, detect maxillary sinusitis
* - in comatose patients, immediately having strong argument for elevated intracranial pressure
*** - easy checking, without Doppler, free access (or complete thrombosis) of subclavian, jugular or femoral veins
* - possibility of canulating subclavian vein in very severe patients with trouble of hemostasis or overweight
*** - having logical approach in a nonsevere patient suspect of pulmonary embolism, avoiding risky tests or risky urgent therapy
- immediately identifying peritoneal effusion of hemoperitoneum or peritonitis
* - immediately suspecting or ruling out mesenteric infarction
* - detecting pneumoperitoneum (without moving the patient for complex radiological films
- avoid useless long-term bladder or gastric probe
- avoiding to conclude (and refer to theater) to acute acalculous cholecystitis, facing frequent and normal changes in the gallbladder
- avoid traditional gel
- benefit from a simple ultrasound machine, with optimal resolution, easy to disinfect, small even once on the cart, cost-effective, and from a unique probe allowing whole-body scanning (neonate apart).
4) An original training center - read its peculiarities at page « Knowing all about the CEURF training center ». .