MESA ULTRASOUND

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Minimum: Life Saving or "Core Measure" Modalties

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Attend Course or Watch videos of:

1.  Intro/Benefits - This short introductory lecture answers the question "Why Emergency Ultrasound? ".  This is meant to be a primer for the rest of the course that will introduce you to emergency ultrasound and discuss the abundant literature on the proven benefits of emergency ultrasound.

2.  Physics/Knobology - After this lecture you will be able to understand the role of physics in modern ultrasound, define the necessary terms, and understand doppler ultrasound.  You will also understand the role of instrumentation in image acquisition and understand the types of ultrasound artifacts and their role in image acquisition. The knobology part will teach you how to use the machines and what knobs to turn or push as this can be an irritating, but necessary skill to have to acquire.

3.  Trauma - Sonography in trauma has been proven to reduce costs and greatly benefit patients by decreasing time to OR and decreasing total hospital stay.  You will be able to describe the indications, clinical algorithms, and limitations of bedside ultrasound in blunt and penetrating thoracoabdominal trauma.  You will gain familiarity with the relevant local anatomy including the liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, uterus, pericardium, and lung.  You will understand the protocol required and findings when evaluating for hemoperitoneum,hemopericardium, hemothorax, and pneumothorax.

4.  Aorta - This lecture will teach you how to save lives by quickly and effectively diagnosing AA and aortic dissection.  You will be able to describe indications and limitations of focused ultrasound in the evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections.  You will also become familiar with the local relevant anatomy including the aorta, inferior vena cava, and vertebral bodies.  You will understand the standard ultrasound protocol required and findings when evaluating for abdominal aortic aneurysms and dissection.

5. Cardiac - Why is this patient hypotensive and how long do we really need to continue with this code are questions that we frequently ask and that can be frequently answered with cardiac ultrasound.  From this lecture you will learn the indications and limitations of focused emergency echocardiography.  You will be able to define the relevant cardiac anatomy including cardiac chambers, valves, pericardium, and aorta.  You will gain an understanding of the standard ultrasound windows (subcostal, parasternal, and apical) and planes (four chamber, long and short axis) necessary to perform focused echocardiography when evaluating for cardiac activity and pericardial effusions.

You will learn to recognize the relevant focused findings to detect cardiac activity and pericardial effusions with or without tamponade.  You should also gain the ability to estimate qualitative left ventricular function and the ability to estimate central venous pressure through examination of the inferior vena cava compliance.

6. Vascular Access - Ultrasound guidance is the standard of care when it comes to placing central line and will most likely be a core measure in 2012.  This lecture will allow you to understand the 2D transverse and longitudinal approaches to vascular access as well as their advantages and disadvantages.  You will be able to define the relevant local anatomy and understand the standard protocols when using ultrasound for central or peripheral vascular access.

Hands-on Experience:  Can be met with me on shifts, at conferences, on your own and sending me scans via Ultralinq, or at once monthly scanning days at MESA Office – Requirements:  25 scans of EFAST/Aorta/Cardiac  10 scans of central access

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