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 green arrow) is pointing towards the patient’s left shoulder
The PLAX view is the only view in the basic FATE protocol where the orientation marker on the transducer is directed towards the right shoulder
It is the standard view for measuring the dimensions of the heart
The image quality is often improved with expiration
Left lateral position – approx. 70-90 degrees – is generally the optimal position for the PLAX view
The apex is generally not seen
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 on 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 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 will explain the position in detail, focusing on how to obtain and interpret the 2D ultrasound image
The parasternal long axis view is obtained by placing the transducer in the intercostal space III-IV to the left of the sternum
The orientation marker (OM) on the transducer should be directed towards the patients right shoulder. This is the only view where the OM is directed towards the right side of the patient
Notice the location of the heart in the thoracic cavity and the orientation of the ultrasound sector beam (the scanning plane)
The structures identified in the FATE position 3, parasternal long axis view are:
– RV: Right ventricle
– AO: Ascending aorta
– LV: Left ventricle
– LA: Left atrium
– PW: posterior wall
– pericardium
– AML: Anterior mitral leaflet
– PML: Posterior mitral leaflet
– IVS: Inter-ventricular septum
– Descending thoracic aorta
Notice that the apex of the heart is generally not seen in this view (outside the sector to the left of the screen)
Imagine that the probe is placed on the upper border of the screen with the red and the blue radii diverging from the probe
The red radius of the sector presented on the screen corresponds to the red radius of the yellow sector intersecting the heart of the torso
The blue radius of the sector presented on the screen corresponds to the blue radius of the yellow sector intersecting the heart of the torso
The apex of the heart is displayed on the left side of the screen
Notice that the green arrow points towards the patient’s right shoulder in this particular view
The target view is a 3-chamber and ascending aorta image
The position 3 PLAX view is shown on page 1 of the FATE card. It corresponds to the yellow scanning plane illustrated on the torso of the figure
The RV is located anteriorly, directly under the transducer and appears in the near field
The left ventricle and the left atrium are located deeper and appear in the far field with the ascending aorta interposed between the left atrium and right ventricle
Notice that the apex appears on the left side of the screen, and the LA and ascending aorta appear on the right side
