Definition
The RUSH protocol involves a three-part bedside assessment of:
- The Pump (heart)
- The Tank (intravascular volume and free fluid)
- The Pipes (aorta and large veins)
The HIMAP mnemonic describes which parts of the body to scan:
H Heart
I IVC
M Morrisons pouch and FAST
A Aorta
P Pneumothorax
While the whole assessment could be performed using a curvilinear probe, better images are obtained if a phased array probe is used to assess the heart and IVC, and then a curvilinear probe to assess the abdomen, aorta and lung fields.