The AIUM recently announced a initiative to increase awareness of ultrasound as the first imaging modality to be considered when radiation exposure and cost are factors. If you are a fan of the Image Gently campaign from the Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging, you’ll like this ultrasound-centric vision even more. More information below, including the AIUM’s press release.
This year AIUM is hosting its annual conference at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ. The first offering by the Emergency and Critical Care Community of Practice was a great success. The conference proper hasn’t even started yet and the sessions have already started off with a bang.
Moderator Bret Nelson organized the session which was attended by Emergency Physicians, Intensivists, Sonographers, Perinatologists, and Primary Care physicians:
Point-of-care ultrasound in the evaluation and treatment of the unstable patient
Another beautiful sunny day. Although some people left for early flights back home, there was still some life left in the conference on Saturday.
Notable events included:
Sinai’s own Henrietta Rosenberg, MD, hosting a meet-the-professor session on sonography of the infant hip
EM/Critical Care track session on the ultrasound evaluation of dyspnea, featuring Anthony Dean, Paul Sierzenski, Vicki Noble, David Bahner, and Jim Tsung.
Scientific session on Emergency Sonography research in the afternoon
Just Images- cardiac ultrasound in the ED and ICU, including contributions by Chris Moore, Alexander Levitov, Jim Tsung, and Erika Kube.
San Diego 2010 Final Thoughts:
Bret:
The Transcranial Doppler session was great. The best part of the AIUM conferences for me is learning something new and getting outside of my comfort zone. The faculty for the TCD course made the technique look easy. Although you can’t hope to master a new clinical skill in an afternoon, I was inspired to learn more about this technique and how it could impact care in the ED.
Zsolt Garami, director of the TCD Center at Methodist Hospital in Houston, demonstrated the perfect blend of knowledge, technique, wit, and sarcasm to make for a fantastic experience!
Phil:
The Just Images sessions were really useful. Lots of great cases, and an excellent video of a pupillary reflex from Chris Moore.
Jim:
The coolest thing I saw was in one of the OB sessions- a 4D/3D plus real-time movie of an ultrasound guided needle sampling of fetal blood cells from an umbilical cord floating in the amniotic sac. That was pretty cool- and the future for ultrasound guided procedures.
Another great day for the Emergency and Critical Care track.
8:15 head and neck US
9:45 Emergency and Critical Care Community of Practice meeting
Michael Blaivas was at the helm as the new Chair of the EM/CC community of practice. Bret Nelson was elected the incoming Secretary, and thus took notes. Apparently poor handwriting and the inability to touch type were not obstacles in the selection process.
11:00 clinical sonography – emergency sonography
1:30 transcranial Doppler session
This was an excellent session, with great hands-on instruction by experienced and enthusiastic instructors. They made everything look easy.
Thursday was a great day for the EM/Crit Care track.
Not sure what happened in the AM – I was on a plane – not on a boat – on a plane!
The hands-on vascular access course was held in the afternoon. The opening lecture covering short and long axis approaches by Jason Nomura was an excellent example of clear, concise presentation of complicated information. Clearly, Jason has mastered the zen of well…presentation zen. I’m sure no one in that room had a hard time remembering the importance of distinguishing the tip of the needle from the shaft after his talk.
The day ended with a Just Images session presented by Anthony Dean and Chris Moore titled “Patients in Shock.” Fascinating clips of patients with pulmonary embolism, atrial myxoma, tamponade, dissection, and more.
Mount Sinai’s Director of Pediatric Radiology, Henrietta Rosenberg presented data on the use of ultrasound in pediatric hip evaluations this afternoon as well.
