Ensuring competency in focused cardiac ultrasound: a systematic review of training programs.

Background: Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is a valuable skill for rapid assessment of cardiac function and volume status. Despite recent widespread adoption among physicians, there is limited data on the optimal training methods for teaching FoCUS and metrics for determining competency. We conducted a systematic review to gain insight on the optimal training strategies, including type and duration, that would allow physicians to achieve basic competency in FoCUS.

Clozapine-Associated Aspiration During Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Clozapine-induced gastric hypomotility (CIGH) is an underreported, underrecognized effect from high-dose clozapine. In this report, we present a patient with treatment refractory schizophrenia receiving high-dose clozapine who aspirated during general anesthesia for electroconvulsive therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aspiration under general anesthesia as a result of CIGH and highlights the potential dangers high-dose clozapine can pose on patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy with unrecognized CIGH.

Catatonia in the ICU: an important and underdiagnosed cause of altered mental status. a case series and review of the literature*.

Objective: Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with motor and behavioral symptoms occurring in patients with or without a history of psychiatric illness. Although it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the prevalence of catatonia in the ICU setting is unknown. The diagnosis and management of catatonia in the critically ill patient raises unique challenges.