Advanced Ultrasound Workshops for Emergency Medicine Residents
ABSTRACT
Audience and type of curriculum:
This ultrasound curriculum is designed for second-year emergency medicine residents who have completed a 2-week dedicated ultrasound rotation covering the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) core applications.
Introduction/Background:
Ultrasound has become a standard component of emergency medicine residency training. Most residency programs fulfill this requirement with a dedicated rotation.1 At our institution this occurs in the intern year and focuses primarily on the ACEP core applications.2 This focused time allows intensive exposure, but for many residents, scanning declines after competency in the basic applications is achieved.
Objectives:
We sought to renew interest in ultrasound by presenting two advanced workshops on nontraditional content. Sessions covered ways ultrasound could augment or replace aspects of the physical exam, and covered ultrasound guided nerve blocks
Methods:
The educational strategies used in this curriculum include: lecture-style, case-based didactic sessions and observed hands-on ultrasound scanning sessions.
Length of curriculum:
The curriculum was run in 2 two-hour sessions.
Topics:
Point of Care/Clinical/Focused Ultrasound as Adjunct to Physical Exam: splenomegaly, acute mitral regurgitation, aortic dissection, hepatomegaly, jugular venous distension, patellar tendon evaluation, shoulder dislocation.
Ultrasound Guided Nerve Blocks: posterior tibial nerve, ulnar nerve, radial nerve, femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, interscalene brachial plexus, supraclavicular brachial plexus.