2016 Canadian Resuscitative Ultrasound Course – A Resounding Success

arntfield — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 19:59:27 +0000

With 72 learners, 25 faculty and 2.5 days of high intensity, resuscitative ultrasound training, the 2016 CRUS course outdid itself even this year. In addition to the usual features of the course like a flipped classroom curriculum (eliminating lectures altogether), 5 hours a day of practical training and a 2:1 learner to trainer bedside ratio, this course offered a new general simulation station (ultrasound integrated, of course), star studded local, national and international faculty and a showcase of the newest and most innovative ultrasound techniques and equipment. Also, this year, lunchtime Kahoot sessions and an optional third day was added to address the growing interest in learning advanced echocardiographic techniques to be applied at the point-of-care were exciting additions to our program.

A huge thank you to all those learners, faculty, vendors and staff (esp the CSTAR staff and Rebecca Rondinelli) for making this a memorable experience!

This scale of course can only happen once a year so mark your calendars for the 2017 course which will take place on August 17 and 18 2017. Keep tabs on this website for announcements or, if you would like to be emailed when course registration for 2017 opens, please email Tammy Mills at [email protected]

For some snaps of the course this year, see our gallery below.

Point of Care TEE Arrives in our ICU’s

arntfield — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 02:04:30 +0000

The point of care, critical care ultrasound (CCUS) program at Western University has become enabled with transesophageal echo (TEE) capability. The arrival of new TEE transducers that function on the bedside, point of care machines in all our ICU’s will allow for expanded capabilities in properly trained hands. With several Critical Care Western program faculty (as well as some fellows) being trained in TEE use, the acquisition of these probes takes advantage of our program’s talent and brings our point of care ultrasound program and patient care to a new level.

The value of TEE in the ICU has been well substantiated since the early 1990’s. In the post-pulmonary artery catheter era that we now find ourselves in, investment in tools that may rapidly address hemodynamic questions for those in shock is sensible. While most commonly used in the immediately post-cardiac surgery patient, we (and many groups, especially the Europeans) are finding value in the difficult to image medical patient for basic indications or in those with advanced questions. Indications for CCUS of all types are well described in this internationally endorsed consensus statement.

Ironically, in offering dedicated transthoracic echo (TTE) training to our trainees we hope to need the imaging advantage of our TEE probes relatively infrequently.

See images below to see the probe in use.

Example TEE image from our point of care machines. Note the exceptional resolution of cardiac structures in this RV inflow/outflow view was obtained at point of care for exam on septic shock in an IV drug user.

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Next stop for TEE? The emergency department for those in cardiac arrest. Click here to learn more via a 5 minute grand rounds.

TEE – Western Sono

2016 Canadian Resuscitative Ultrasound Course – A Resounding Success

Point of Care TEE Arrives in our ICU’s