Emergency Medicine

Research (STONE)

STONE Resources

Scanning Technique

  • Pt should be supine or lateral decubitus position using curvilinear probe
  • Scan in 2 planes: Transverse and longitudinal
  • Scan through all tissue planes from superior pole to inferior pole
  • Scan both kidneys for comparison
  • Scan bladder for UVJ/bladder stones and ureteral jets

What to look for

  • Goal of bedisde US is not to detect stones themselves (although they can be seen)
  • Looking for evidence of stones (obstruction): Hydronephrosis

Mild Hydronephrosis

  • Isolated fluid in the renal sinus
  • Confirm that fluid is not vasculature by using color doppler: no flow

Moderate Hydronephrosis

  • Confluent regions of fluid in the renal sinus
  • "Bear Claw"

Severe Hydronephrosis

  • Confluent mass of fluid
  • Effacement of medulla or renal cortex