[Ultrasound of the large abdominal vessels]. / Ecografía de los grandes vasos abdominales.

Ultrasound has recently become an indispensable tool for the family physician, whether exercised in primary care and emergency department; and likewise it has spread to many other specialties: internal medicine, critical care, neurology, pneumology, digestive, etc. and that ultrasound has proven to be a safe diagnostic tool and have great capacity. We firmly believe that ultrasound done to «bedside¼ the patient by the family doctor, can greatly complement the physical examination and greatly improve clinical effectiveness, allowing the browser an immediate view of the anatomy and physiology of certain structures. It is within this context is particularly relevant ultrasonography of the Aorta and large abdominal vessels, made by the family doctor or the emergency itself, which will develop along this chapter.

[Hypokalemic periodic paralysis. A case report]. / Parálisis periódica hipopotasémica. A propósito de un caso.

Periodic paralysis is a rare disorder that causes episodes of severe muscle weakness that can be confused with other diseases, including epilepsy or myasthenia gravis. Hyperkalemic and hypokalemic paralysis are included within these diseases, the latter being divided into periodic paralysis (familial, thyrotoxic or sporadic) and non-periodic paralysis. In this regard, we present a case of familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis in an eighteen year-old female who was diagnosed with epilepsy in childhood, as well as a subclinical hypothyroidism (for which she received replacement therapy) months ago. The diagnosis was made by the anamnesis and the confirmation of hypokalemia.

[Ultrasound diagnosis of pulmonary infarction in emergencies. A case presentation]. / Diagnóstico ecográfico del infarto pulmonar en urgencias. A propósito de un caso.

Pulmonary infarction is a parenchymal ischemic lesion that occurs in the context of a pulmonary embolism when arterial blockage deprives perfusion to that area and the adjacent bronchial circulation does not provide the necessary flow. It appears in approximately 40% of pulmonary embolisms. Emergency Physicians are able to diagnose a pulmonary infraction at the patient bedside, in a quick, easy, safe and efficient way with the availability of ultrasound in our Emergency Rooms and Health Centres. The possibility of approaching the aetiology, firstly with a clinical suspicion then adding risk factors, symptoms, clinical and radiological signs and the use of in situ imaging, increases the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis.