Addition of a lateral view improves adequate visualization of the abdominal aorta during clinician performed ultrasound.

Objective: Full visualization of the abdominal aorta using the standard midline view is often inadequate for the detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm. We evaluated whether the addition of a lateral midaxillary right upper quadrant view could improve visualization of the abdominal aorta.

Methods: This was a prospective observational proof-of-concept study of patients older than 50 years undergoing abdominal computed tomographic scan for any indication in the emergency department.