#203 POCUS for AKI & Dialysis | Real Cases That Changed Management

#203 POCUS for AKI & Dialysis | Real Cases That Changed Management

Author: Core IM Team March 23, 2026 Duration: 29:19

A dialysis patient with a chronic cough: is it COPD, or are they still volume overloaded?

A patient with AKI and hyperkalemia says they’re still peeing — does that rule out post-obstructive AKI?

A patient arrives in the ED with uremic symptoms and a newly created AV fistula. Can you safely use it, or do you need to place a temporary dialysis catheter?

And the classic inpatient dilemma: your heart failure patient looks better after diuresis, but the creatinine is rising. Is it time to stop, or should you keep going?


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🔹Transcript and Shownotes:


00:52 | What is NephMadness?

02:19 | Detecting post-renal obstruction in a patient who reported normal urination

11:26 | POCUS for discharge or continue diurese

17:25 | Distinguishing COPD from volume overload in a dialysis patient using lung ultrasound

23:55 | Assessing AV fistula maturity at the bedside to potentially avoid placing a temporary dialysis line


Along the way, we discuss practical ways clinicians can use renal, lung, and venous ultrasound to clarify uncertain clinical situations and make faster decisions at the bedside.


If you’ve ever paused on rounds, wondering “what should we do next?” in a patient with kidney disease, this episode explores how POCUS can help answer that question.


Tags: CoreIM, Internal Medicine, Medical Education, Nephrology, AKI Management, POCUS



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Ever find yourself in the middle of a busy day, wondering about the 'why' behind a common treatment or needing a clear way to think through a complex diagnosis? That's the space where Core IM | Internal Medicine Podcast lives. Created by the Core IM Team, this isn't just a lecture series; it's a practical companion for clinicians, students, and anyone curious about the inner workings of medical practice. Each episode is structured into distinct segments that tackle different facets of the clinical world. You'll hear "5 Pearls" for concise, immediately useful takeaways, and "Mind the Gap" explores the evidence and reasoning behind our everyday decisions. When management gets tricky, "Gray Matters" steps in to untangle the thought process, while "Hoofbeats" focuses on sharpening diagnostic acumen. Finally, "At the Bedside" brings it all together, addressing the real and often nuanced challenges faced in patient care. The conversation throughout this podcast is grounded, thoughtful, and driven by a genuine desire to deepen understanding beyond the textbook. It’s about connecting the dots between knowledge and application, making the intricate landscape of internal medicine a bit more navigable, one discussion at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Core IM | Internal Medicine Podcast
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