Handheld Ultrasound: Overcoming the Challenge of Difficult Peripheral Intravenous Access in the Emergency Department.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a handheld ultrasound device for difficult peripheral intravenous (PIV) access performed by nurses and paramedics in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: This was a retrospective review at an academic medical center. Participants were ED nurses and paramedics with competence in ultrasound-guided PIV placement.

Multimodular Ultrasound Orientation: Residents' Confidence and Skill in Performing Point-of-care Ultrasound.

Introduction The objectives of this study were to determine if a multimodular introductory ultrasound course improved emergency medicine intern confidence in performing a point-of-care ultrasound and if our educational objectives could be met with our chosen structure. Methods This is a prospective, observational study evaluating three consecutive incoming emergency medicine residency classes from three residency programs. A one-day introductory ultrasound course was delivered.

Cadaver-based Necrotizing Fasciitis Model for Medical Training.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a devastating infectious disease process that is characterized by extensive soft tissue necrosis along deep fascial planes, systemic toxicity, and high mortality. Ultrasound imaging is a rapid and non-invasive tool that can be used to help make the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis by identifying several distinctive sonographic findings. The purpose of this study is to describe the construction of a realistic diagnostic training model for necrotizing fasciitis using fresh frozen cadavers and common, affordable materials.

Assessment of ultrasound-guided procedures in preclinical years.

Medical graduates entering residency often lack confidence and competence in procedural skills. Implementation of ultrasound (US)-guided procedures into undergraduate medical education is a logical step to addressing medical student procedural competency. The objective of our study was to determine the impact of an US teaching workshop geared toward training medical students in how to perform three distinct US-guided procedures.

Bedside echo for chest pain: an algorithm for education and assessment.

Background: Goal-directed ultrasound protocols have been developed to facilitate efficiency, throughput, and patient care. Hands-on instruction and training workshops have been shown to positively impact ultrasound training.

Objectives: We describe a novel undifferentiated chest pain goal-directed ultrasound algorithm-focused education workshop for the purpose of enhancing emergency medicine resident training in ultrasound milestones competencies.

Ultrasound evaluation of saphenous vein for peripheral intravenous cannulation in adults.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate variables that may affect sonographic cannulation of great saphenous vein and determine the ideal location for ultrasound-guided saphenous vein cannulation in adult emergency department (ED) patients.

Methods: A prospective observational study at an academic ED. The great saphenous vein was identified in adult subjects at three distinct sites after placing the tourniquet proximal to the vein: the ankle, mid-calf, and below the knee using a 10-5 MHz linear transducer.