Aorta - Normal IVC and Aorta - Transverse view
Caption
The two round, anechoic structures laying on top of a hyperechoic vertebra are the IVC to the left of the screen (patient’s right), and the thicker, contractile aorta to the right (patient’s left). Deep inspiration or a sniff test demonstrates a collapsible IVC in normal subjects. Consider, however, that visualization of both these vessels may certainly be obscured by very obese patients or those with subcutaneous emphysema, significant bowel gas, ascites, or a large ventral hernia. This clip is taken over the subxiphoid region, transverse to the body’s axis, and with the probe marker oriented to the patient’s right. Dr. Felipe Urriola P., Emergency Unit, Puerto Aysen Hospital, Chilean Patagonia.