Module I: Ultrasound Principles (Physics, Sonoanatomy, Scanning Basics, Safety)
- Analyze the basic components of a sound wave.
- Describe how a transducer generates a sound wave.
- Compare and contrast high and low frequency ultrasound.
- Explain how an ultrasound image is created.
- Discuss the role of color Doppler in ultrasound-guided procedures.
- Relate acoustic impedance to the generation of a reflection.
- Explain the concepts of reflection, refraction, scattering, and attenuation.
- Define sonoanatomy.
- Identify different anatomic structures by their sonoanatomy.
- Review common ultrasound artifacts and their origins.
- List the essential components of an ultrasound system.
- Determine the appropriate transducer for performing various ultrasound-guided procedures.
- List the essential principles of transducer handling and manipulation.
- Relate the concepts of depth, gain, and color Doppler to ultrasound imaging.
- Define ergonomics.
- Review what is known about the bioeffects of ultrasound on cells, animals, and humans.
- Describe what is known about risk in the use of sonography and Doppler ultrasound.
- Define the ‘ALARA’ principle.
- Discuss how the provider can incorporate ALARA principles into their scanning technique to ensure safe ultrasound scanning.
Module II: Ultrasound Assessment of Gastric Contents
- Review the current perioperative fasting guidelines.
- Discuss the utility of gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in perioperative patient management.
- State the indications for performing a gastric POCUS exam.
- Describe proper transducer placement and sonoanatomy for performing gastric POCUS.
- Qualitatively describe gastric contents based on ultrasound presentation.
- Identify parameters for determining quantitative gastric volume.
Module III: Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access
- State the indications for vascular access in anesthetic practice.
- Review ultrasound physics and principles relative to vascular access.
- Select the optimal site for vascular access placement based on procedure and patient’s functional anatomy.
- Identify factors that place patients at increased risk for difficult IV access.
- Compare and contrast in-plane vs. out-of-plane needle insertion techniques.
- Describe essential documentation required for all vascular access procedures.
- Discuss risks and complications of ultrasound-guided vascular access procedures.
Module IV: Ultrasound Assessment of the Airway and Pleura
- Review ultrasound concepts essential to airway and pleura assessment.
- List indications for ultrasound assessment of the airway and pleura.
- Review the difficult airway algorithm.
- Describe the ‘String of Pearls’ and ‘TACA’ methods used to identify the cricothyroid membrane with ultrasound.
- List the criteria indicating a normal lung ultrasound exam.
- Explain how M-Mode ultrasound is used in lung ultrasound.
- Differentiate between the ‘Seashore Sign’ and ‘Stratosphere Sign’.
- Describe how the following pulmonary pathologies appear on ultrasound: pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, lung consolidation
- Compare and contrast a lung point and lung pulse.
Module V: Ultrasound Assessment of Hemodynamic Status and Intracranial Pressure
- Review the procedure to assess fluid volume status through ultrasound imaging of the inferior vena cava (IVC)
- Determine the fluid volume resuscitation requirements based on IVC assessment
- Demonstrate proper transducer placement and criteria for normal intracranial pressure using the optic sheath diameter.