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Objective: To develop a simulation-based curriculum for residents to learn ultrasound-guided (USG) central venous catheter (CVC) insertion, and to study the volume and type of practice that leads to technical proficiency. Methods: Ten post-graduate year two residents from the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology completed four training sessions of two hours each, at two week intervals, where they engaged in a structured program of deliberate practice of the fundamental skills of USG CVC insertion on a simulator. Progress during training was monitored using regular hand motion analysis (HMA) and performance benchmarks were determined by HMA of local experts. Blinded assessment of video recordings was done at the end of training to assess technical competence using a global rating scale. Results: None of the residents met any of the expert benchmarks at baseline. Over the course of training, the HMA metrics of the residents revealed steady and significant improvement in technical proficiency. By the end of the fourth session six of 10 residents had faster procedure times than the mean expert benchmark, and nine of 10 residents had more efficient left and right hand motions than the mean expert benchmarks. Nine residents achieved mean GRS scores rating them competent to perform independently. Conclusion: We successfully developed a simulation-based curriculum for residents learning the skills of USG CVC insertion. Our results suggest that engaging residents in three to four distributed sessions of deliberate practice of the fundamental skills of USG CVC insertion leads to steady and marked improvement in technical proficiency with individuals approaching or exceeding expert level benchmarks. RÉSUMÉObjectifs: L'étude visait à élaborer un programme de formation axé sur la simulation et conçu à l'intention des résidents en vue de l'apprentissage de la mise en place échoguidée de cathéters veineux centraux (CVC), et à déterminer le nombre et le type d'exercices pratiques permettant d'en arriver à la compétence technique. Méthode: Dix résidents, en deuxième année d'études de cycles supérieurs, en médecine d'urgence et en anesthésie ont participé à quatre séances de formation de deux heures chacune, tenues à deux semaines d'intervalle, dans le cadre d'un programme structuré de pratique intentionnelle sur simulateur, en vue de l'acquisition des compétences de base dans la mise en place échoguidée de CVC. Les progrès réalisés durant la formation ont été suivis de près à l'aide d'un outil régulier de mesure, l'Hand Motion Analysis (HMA), et les valeurs de référence ont été déterminées par l'HMA des experts locaux. À la fin des séances de formation, les compétences techniques enregistrées sur bande vidéo ont fait l'objet d'une évaluation à l'insu par des experts, sur une échelle globale de notation (EGN). Résultats: Au départ, aucun des résidents n'atteignait l'une ou l'autre des valeurs de référence. Au fil de la formation, les mesures de l'HMA des résidents ont révélé une amélioration constante et i...

Objectives: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an integral diagnostic and interventional tool.Barriers to POCUS training persist, and it continues to remain heterogeneous across training programs. Structured POCUS assessment tools exist, but remain limited in their feasibility, acceptability, reliability, and validity; none of these tools are entrustment-based. The objective of this study was to derive a simple, entrustment-based POCUS competency assessment tool and pilot it in an assessment setting.Methods: This study was composed of two phases. First, a three-step modified Delphi design surveyed 60 members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Emergency Ultrasound Committee (EUC) to derive the anchors for the tool. Subsequently, the derived ultrasound competency assessment tool (UCAT) was used to assess trainee (N = 37) performance on a simulated FAST examination. The intraclass correlation (ICC) for inter-rater reliability and Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency were calculated. A statistical analysis was performed to compare the UCAT to other competency surrogates. Results:The three-round Delphi had 22, 26, and 26 responses from the EUC members. Consensus was reached, and anchors for the domains of preparation, image acquisition, image optimization, and clinical integration achieved approval rates between 92 and 96%. The UCAT pilot revealed excellent inter-rater reliability (with ICC values of 0.69-0.89; p < 0.01) and high internal consistency (α = 0.91). While UCAT scores were not impacted by level of training, they were significantly impacted by the number of previous POCUS studies completed. Conclusions:We developed and successfully piloted the UCAT, an entrustment-based bedside POCUS competency assessment tool suitable for rapid deployment. The findings from this study indicate early validity evidence for the use of the UCAT as an assessment of trainee POCUS competence on FAST. The UCAT should be trialed in different populations performing several POCUS study types.

Hepatic abscess is an uncommon occurrence in North America, but can be a diagnostic challenge for emergency department physicians. The clinical signs and symptoms may vary, leading to delays in diagnosis and higher morbidity. We present a case of a 35-year old male with a hepatic abscess initially misdiagnosed as pneumonia. On subsequent return to the ED for back pain complaints, a bedside ultrasound led to the appropriate diagnosis. This case report and discussion will attempt to review the literature on the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic abscess for the emergency physician.