Episode 64: Neurologic POCUS with Aarti Sarwal

In this episode of Critical Care Scenarios, hosts Brian Bowling and Brandon Odo interview Dr. Aarti Sarwal, a neurocritical care expert, about the use of point-of-care ultrasound in the neuro ICU and other critical care settings. Dr. Sarwal presents a case of a patient on VA ECMO experiencing neurological decline, and discusses how ultrasound can be used to assess intracranial pressure, detect midline shift, and identify hemorrhagic stroke. The conversation covers techniques like optic nerve sheath diameter measurement, fundoscopic ultrasound for papilledema, B-mode cranial ultrasound, and transcranial Doppler, emphasizing the importance of serial assessments and the potential for these methods to reduce the need for CT scans and improve brain monitoring in various critical illnesses.