POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) has become an important part of an anesthesiologist’s toolbox. Our department had incorporated a formal and structured POCUS rotation, taught by ultrasound trained anesthesiology intensivists, even before the ABA incorporated POCUS in the residency training requirements.

Anesthesiology residents are trained in both the skills of hands-on sonography to be able to obtain the ultrasound pictures, as well as the art of image interpretation to be able to apply the information to a clinically relevant scenario. The residents undergo both simulation/manikin as well as real patient sessions during this rotation.

These sessions are held every month and are aimed at training the residents in Transthoracic Echo (TTE), FAST, Lung and Vascular Ultrasound techniques, to become adept at obtaining images independently, and to use them for interpretation.

With the help of ultrasound machines in the SNICU, CVICU, and the PACU, along with the portable Butterfly IQ probe that connects to an iDevice, converting it to an ultrasound machine, residents develop the ability to use critical ultrasound skills in many patient care scenarios. Whether it is estimating an Ejection Fraction in the preoperative area, estimating fluid responsiveness in the ICU, or looking for intra-abdominal fluid or bleeding, ultrasound training helps our residents make better clinical decisions.