Abdominal Sonography Course

Course Description

Abdominal sonography for real-time non-invasive assessment of abdominal conditions in the ambulatory, emergency and critical care settings. The interactive lectures will provide the clinical foundation for POCUS application in abdominal evaluation. The hands-on training is the cornerstone of the program. Participants will be guided to perform bedside scans on volunteers. With 5 hours set aside for live demonstration and scanning and keeping the trainer to trainee ratio at maximum of 1:4, participants will have ample opportunities to practise during the Hands-on sessions.

Learning Objective

Upon completion of this course, participants will learn how to:

• Appreciate and identify basic normal sonographic anatomy of the liver, biliary system, kidney, spleen, pancreas, bowel and abdominal aorta.

• Perform focused assessment of these 7 major organ systems using the S.A.F.E.R LASSO approach

• Evaluate the peritoneal space for free fluid and free air

• Assess the liver for size, echotexture, focal mass, and features of portal hypertension

• Assess the gallbladder for size, wall thickness, stones and focal mass

• Assess the intra and extrahepatic biliary ducts for size and stones, and intrahepatic biliary ducts for aerobilia

• Assess the kidney for size, echotexture, stones, focal mass and pelvi-calyceal dilatation

• Assess the spleen for size, echotexture and focal mass

• Assess the pancreas for size, echotexture and focal mass

• Assess the bowel for size, wall thickness, distension and compressibility

• Assess the abdominal aorta for size, leak and dissection

• Integrate key sonographic findings in the assessment of patients with abdominal symptoms

Who should attend?

Surgeons, physicians, emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, residents, medical officers and healthcare workers involved in the management of patients with abdominal complaints and emergencies. Participants should already have a basic understanding of point of care ultrasound and ultrasound physics.

ACGME-I Competencies

This course is designed to meet one or more of the following ACGME competencies:

• Patient Care

• Medical Knowledge

• Practise-Based Learning and Improvement