January 2025 - Vascular Viewpoint

🗞️ Ultrasound Application News

As POCUS becomes integral to undergraduate medical education (UME), eFAST training stands out as a critical tool for assessing trauma patients. A recent study highlights challenges in mastering techniques like fanning and structured reporting, offering valuable insights for educators. Discover how to enhance eFAST training with SonoSim’s expert-guided modules, combining hands-on practice and structured pathways to build confidence and proficiency.

📚 Case Study:  Right Jugular

What are the relevant sonographic findings?

Background:

• 63-year-old female
• Presents with progressive swelling of the right anterior neck over the course of one week
  
  

  👇 What type of pathology is in this clip?

👩‍⚕️ Scanning & Imaging Tips: Peripheral Venous Access

Ultrasound guidance for peripheral venous access has become a game-changer in clinical practice. It significantly reduces the risk of complications like arterial punctures, minimizes the number of needle sticks and redirects, and enhances overall patient comfort.

When performing ultrasound-guided vascular access, carefully evaluate vein compressibility, diameter, and depth to select the most appropriate site. Real-time imaging allows precise needle placement, reducing guesswork and improving success rates.

Incorporating these techniques can lead to smoother procedures and better outcomes for both clinicians and patients. 

🔎 Scan & Seek - Fun with Physics

Keep watching below to see what the unusual subject we scanned this month was!

Tomato - Let's get juicy with ultrasound physics… using a tomato!
Did you know that scanning a tomato can teach us a lot about echogenicity? When we image a tomato, we see a range of bright and dark areas that correspond to its layers. The skin appears highly echogenic (brighter) because it’s denser, while the flesh shows a more homogeneous, medium-gray pattern. The gel-filled seed cavities are darker, almost anechoic, due to their fluid content.
These distinct layers are a great demonstration of how ultrasound differentiates tissues based on their density and water content. From tomatoes to tissues, understanding these differences is key for interpreting ultrasound images in medical practice!

🧠 Challenge Case of the Month: Vascular

Case History:  This 66-year-old-female with history of right carotid endarterectomy presents with transient weakness.

Evaluate her carotid artieries with ultrasound.👇

💥 SonoSim Updates

We have a couple updates to share from our most recent software release, delivering enhanced features and improved performance for our users. Here are the highlights:

• Split-Screen Image Saving: Users can now save images with split-screen enabled, making it easier than ever to capture and share ultrasound images.

• Faster Installation and Loading Times: Enjoy a smoother experience with reduced wait times during installation and loading.

Additionally, please note an important change for Mac users. Due to updates from Apple, the installation process for first-time users is different. While this does not impact current users with the software already installed, we have updated our help article with step-by-step instructions for administrators to guide new users through the process.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance your SonoSim experience!

💡 SonoSim Tips & Tricks

Language customization is now available in the My SonoSim Dashboard! You can now easily switch the platform to your preferred language.

Here’s how:

1. Log in and click your profile icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Open the dropdown menu next to the language and select your preferred language from the list.

This update ensures that SonoSim’s comprehensive ultrasound education resources are accessible to all learners, no matter their language preference. 

Pro Tip: If you’re managing a team, remind them to customize their settings for a smoother training experience.

😂 LOLtrasound

Image Credit: FX Production

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