The second FATE position 3 is the parasternal short axis (PSAX) view

The parasternal short axis view is obtained by placing the transducer in the intercostal space III-IV to the left of the sternum

The orientation marker on the transducer should be directed towards the patient’s left shoulder (90 degrees clockwise rotation from the long axis view)

Notice the location of the heart in the thoracic cavity and the orientation of the ultrasound sector beam (the scanning plane)

The following topics will explain the position in detail, focusing on how to obtain and interpret the 2D ultrasound image

Imagine that the probe is placed on the upper border of the monitor with the red and the blue radii diverging from the probe

The red radius of the sector displayed on the screen corresponds to the red radius of the sector of the ultrasound beam intersecting the heart in the torso

The blue radii also correspond to each other

Notice that the orientation marker of the probe (the grey arrow) is pointing towards the patient’s left shoulder

The target is a short axis view of the two ventricles, corresponding to the yellow sector (the scanning plane) intersecting the heart in the torso in the picture

The probe is placed directly over the heart

The right ventricle is placed anterior to the probe and appears in the near field

The deeper placed posterior wall and the papillary muscles of the left ventricle appear in the far field

Notice that the right ventricle appears on the left side of the screen, and the left ventricle appears on the right side

The structures identified in the FATE position 3 parasternal short axis view are:

– RV: Right ventricle
– LV: Left ventricle
– ALPM: Antero-lateral papillary muscle
– PMPM: Postero-medial papillary muscle
– IVS: Inter-ventricular septum
– LW: Lateral wall
– PW: Posterior wall
– Pericardium

In the daily clinical practice it is important to know the blood supply of the heart

Remember the individual variations can be substantial