Getting to know a familiar face: Current and emerging focused ultrasound applications for the perioperative setting

Abstract

Ultrasound technology is available in many pediatric perioperative settings. There is an increasing number of ultrasound applications for anesthesiologists which may enhance clinical performance, procedural safety, and patient outcomes. This review highlights the literature and experience supporting focused ultrasound applications in the pediatric perioperative setting across varied disciplines including anesthesiology. The review also suggests strategies for building educational and infrastructural systems to translate this technology into clinical practice. K E Y W O R D S anesthesiology, echocardiography, education, nerve block, patient safety, ultrasonography | 673 CONLON et aL. How to cite this article: Conlon TW, Lin EE, Bruins BB, et al. Getting to know a familiar face: Current and emerging focused ultrasound applications for the perioperative setting. Pediatr

The state of point‐of‐care ultrasound training in pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs in the United States: A survey assessment

“…13 This may be reflected in the low rankings PDs/APDs gave fellows' comfort and skill levels with POCUS at the beginning of fellowship (median 3 and 4 on a 10-point scale, respectively) despite the near ubiquity of POCUS training in anesthesia residency, and emphasizes the need for dedicated POCUS education specific to pediatric anesthesia. [10][11][12] Programs with 0-3 fellows enrolled per year were less likely to have POCUS training compared to larger programs. These programs were more likely to list lack of ultrasound access as a primary barrier to implementing a curriculum, which is notable, as nearly 70% of all programs reported having access to ultrasound with echocardiographic capability.…”

“…Perhaps more telling, only four programs reported diagnostic POCUS and POCUS use during crisis scenarios in the OR, a figure that falls far behind other specialties within both anesthesiology and pediatrics 13 . This may be reflected in the low rankings PDs/APDs gave fellows' comfort and skill levels with POCUS at the beginning of fellowship (median 3 and 4 on a 10‐point scale, respectively) despite the near ubiquity of POCUS training in anesthesia residency, and emphasizes the need for dedicated POCUS education specific to pediatric anesthesia 10–12 …”

“…Numerous previously published works have highlighted the unique considerations for POCUS use within pediatric anesthesia compared to general or adult anesthesia, including differences in ultrasonographic anatomy, pathology, probe size and utilization 10–12 . As a result, there is a need for tailored POCUS education specific to pediatric patients within anesthesia.…”

“…[7][8][9] Numerous previously published works have highlighted the unique considerations for POCUS use within pediatric anesthesia compared to general or adult anesthesia, including differences in ultrasonographic anatomy, pathology, probe size and utilization. [10][11][12] As a result, there is a need for tailored POCUS education specific to pediatric patients within anesthesia. Despite the call to expand POCUS use in the pediatric perioperative setting, there currently is no uniform requirement for POCUS education in this domain, and little is known about anesthesiology trainees' exposure to pediatricspecific POCUS, or what resources are offered in pediatric anesthesia fellowship programs for further POCUS education.…”