This valuable exam assesses the trauma patient for internal free fluid collection in the thorax and abdomen. Course participants will learn to identify the internal anatomy seen during the eFAST examination on ultrasound. In addition, students must be able to recognize abnormalities commonly encountered during an eFAST exam, and determine the appropriate transducer for different patient body types.

Learn how to avoid common pitfalls by perfecting identification of surrounding anatomical structures, such as the femoral vessels and lymphatic tissues. Understand correct transducer positioning for optimal needle visualization and how to determine sufficient anesthetic spread.

The gallbladder is not a fixed organ. Learn the best anatomical landmarks to help you locate and correctly identify the gallbladder and assess for cholecystitis and/or cholelithiasis. Differentiate between hepatic and portal veins and other vessels like ducts and arteries, and learn to spot the symptoms of gallbladder pathology, such as pericholecystic fluid, enlarged bile duct and gallbladder walls, and gallstones.

The Interscalene Nerve Block course is designed for medical professionals utilizing point-of-care ultrasound who want to improve accuracy of nerve blocks using ultrasound guidance. This course covers patient positioning, transducer angling, identification of important vasculature, the location and appearance of the brachial plexus nerves, and the effective position of the needle for analgesic injection.

The eye can easily be visualized using ultrasound. Pathologies such as retinal detachment, vitreous detachment/hemorrhage, abnormal intracranial pressure, papilledema, and ruptured globe can be identified even by the novice users of ultrasound. Learn which transducers, exam types, and gain/depth settings are ideal for ophthomalogical imaging.

This course highlights the basics on various nerve blocks that can be applied to the emergency department setting to reduce the need for opioid prescriptions while treating patients' acute, traumatic pain. Learn more about the growing opioid crisis and steps that can be taken in the emergency department to reduce this epidemic.

Understand the basic ultrasound views and techniques associated with performing an ultrasound pelvic examination for first trimester pregnancy, surrounding anatomical structures, and proper equipment settings. In addition, support literature, case studies, pathology images, and videos may be included for review. 

Gain an understanding of the procedures and techniques used to place a peripheral line using ultrasound guidance. Learn to identify adjacent anatomical structures and how to master the correct equipment settings for the procedure.

Review and learn to identify anatomical structures visualized during a popliteal sciatic nerve block with ultrasound guidance; determine the locations of the popliteal artery and vein, and how to locate the perineal and tibial nerve branch, which is ideal for the nerve block placement. 

The RUSH course is designed for medical professionals with comprehensive knowledge of the core underlying concepts of the RUSH protocol, which includes cardiac, Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), eFAST, lung, aorta, and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) ultrasound examinations. Learn the RUSH protocol for assessing patients in shock. 

In this first part of the Ultrasound Instrumentation course, you will develop the confidence to understand the system components, equipment controls and settings, and techniques for necessary for creating an ultrasound image.