Point-of-care echocardiography in simulation-based education and assessment

Figures & data

Table 1 Skills station descriptions

Focused cardiac US
Sonographic skills station	Learning objectives
Simulation-based focused echocardiography objective standardized clinical examination (30 min)	Evaluation of resident performance on a focused cardiac US. Cardiac evaluation in a hypotensive patient can be life saving. In this station, residents must perform a focused cardiac US for the following clinical scenario: “45 year old male with hx of heart disease presenting with hypotension. Vital signs: heart rate 129; blood pressure 100/70; respiratory rate 18; temperature 37.0 Celsius and pulse oximetry 99% on room air.”
Simulation-based diagnostics station (30 min)	How to review focused cardiac US images and clinical scenarios and offer a diagnosis. In this station, residents were provided focused cardiac US images, which demonstrated a variety of findings such as right ventricular dilatation, decreased cardiac function, wall motion abnormality, inferior vena cava evaluation, etc. After reviewing images, residents were asked to provide a diagnosis which best fit the video images and clinical scenarios.
Simulation-based clinical management station (30 min)	How to review focused cardiac US images and clinical scenarios and offer a management plan. In this station, residents were provided focused cardiac US images, which demonstrated a variety of findings such as right ventricular dilatation, decreased cardiac function, wall motion abnormality, etc. After reviewing images, residents were asked to provide management plans for the diagnoses, which best fit the images and clinical scenarios.
Review of the sonographic algorithm for hypotension (30 min)	How to approach an undifferentiated hypotensive patient. In this station, residents reviewed the high yield locations for focused US when evaluating a patient with unclear etiology for hypotension. During this session, emphasis was placed on focused cardiac evaluation, focused abdominal US, and focused thoracic US. Residents reviewed findings that would be associated with asystole, pulmonary embolisms, heart failure, tamponade physiology, dehydration, abdominal free fluid, aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, pleural effusion, and pneumonia.

Abbreviations: US, ultrasound; min, minutes; hx, history.