Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly growing field in medicine, providing clinicians with real-time diagnostic capabilities at the bedside 1. Gastric POCUS is a specific application that enables the assessment of gastric contents and volume, which is particularly useful in preoperative evaluation and emergency settings. As interest in gastric POCUS increases, a variety of resources have emerged to help healthcare professionals learn and master this skill. These resources range from online courses and webinars to textbooks and hands-on workshops, offering comprehensive learning opportunities for both beginners and advanced practitioners.
Online platforms like edX offer courses from top universities and institutions 2. These courses provide flexibility, allowing learners to study at their own pace while accessing high-quality video lectures and interactive content. The Society of Point of Care Ultrasound (SPOCUS) also offers webinars and online courses focused on various POCUS applications, including gastric ultrasound 3. These sessions are often led by experts in the field and include case studies, image interpretation, and practical tips for clinical practice. Finally, several medical professionals and organizations maintain YouTube channels dedicated to ultrasound education, across a variety of channels ranging from “Ultrasound Podcast” to “5 Minute Sono” 4,5, demonstrating techniques and real-life case scenarios.
Several books serve as valuable resources for learning gastric POCUS. Point of Care Ultrasound is a comprehensive textbook which covers a wide range of POCUS applications, including gastric ultrasound 6. It includes detailed explanations, high-resolution images, and practical tips, making it a valuable resource for both learning and reference. Manual of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound is another excellent resource for clinicians looking to integrate POCUS into their practice 7. It includes a section on gastric ultrasound, with step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and clinical pearls.
To learn gastric POCUS, practitioners may attend hands-on workshops and conferences. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) frequently hosts workshops and conferences featuring POCUS training 8. Their hands-on sessions on gastric ultrasound allow participants to practice techniques under the guidance of experienced instructors, providing invaluable real-time feedback. Furthermore, the World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education (WCUME) offers an annual conference with a focus on ultrasound education. The conference includes workshops on gastric POCUS led by international experts and provides networking opportunities with peers and leaders in the field 9. In parallel, many hospitals and universities offer in-house POCUS training programs 10,11; these programs often include hands-on workshops and mentorship opportunities, allowing learners to gain practical experience and receive personalized instruction.
A few different apps add more resources for learning gastric POCUS to the pool, including but not limited to the Butterfly iQ app 12 and the SonoSim app 13. A number of e-books and courses on POCUS, including gastric ultrasound, are also accessible on Google Play Books—learners can access content on their mobile devices, making it convenient to study and review materials on the go.
Learning gastric POCUS is a valuable skill that can enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care in various clinical settings. With the availability of diverse resources, healthcare professionals can choose the learning methods that best suit their needs and preferences.
References
1. Fraleigh, C. D. M. & Duff, E. Point-of-care ultrasound: An emerging clinical tool to enhance physical assessment. Nurse Pract. (2022). doi:10.1097/01.NPR.0000841944.00536.b2
2. NUS: Fundamentals of Point of Care Ultrasound | edX. Available at: https://www.edx.org/learn/medicine/the-national-university-of-singapore-fundamentals-of-point-of-care-ultrasound.
3. SPOCUS – The Society of Point of Care Ultrasound. Available at: https://spocus.org/.
4. 5 Minute Sono – YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPOVec54Nr7NS2yjsgTQGfchrBWOiduCl.
5. Core Ultrasound – YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/@CoreUltrasound.
6. Point of Care Ultrasound – 2nd Edition | Elsevier Shop. Available at: https://shop.elsevier.com/books/point-of-care-ultrasound/soni/978-0-323-54470-2.
7. Manual of Emergency and Critical Care Ultrasound: 9780521170918: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com. Available at: https://www.amazon.com/Manual-Emergency-Critical-Care-Ultrasound/dp/0521170915.
8. 2024 POCUS Scanning Workshop for the Acute Care Provider | ACEP. Available at: https://www.acep.org/master-calendar/2024-pocus-scanning-workshop-for-the-acute-care-provider22.
9. Agenda | World Congress on Ultrasound in Medical Education. Available at: https://www.wcume.org/archive/third-world-congress/agenda-archive/.
10. ASA Education Center: Approved POCUS Courses. Available at: https://education.asahq.org/mod/page/view.php?id=25094.
11. Ultrasound Education Group | Point of Care Online Ultrasound Courses. Available at: https://medicine.unimelb.edu.au/about/ultrasound-education-group.
12. Butterfly iQ — Ultrasound – Apps on Google Play. Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.butterflynetinc.helios&hl=en&pli=1.
13. SonoSim – Apps on Google Play. Available at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sonosim.app&hl=en.