Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a theoretical framework and systematic development of computational models designed to execute tasks that traditionally require human cognition. In medical imaging, AI is used for various modalities, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and pathologies across multiple organ systems. However, integrating AI into medical ultrasound presents unique challenges compared to modalities like CT and MRI due to its operator-dependent nature and inherent variability in the image acquisition process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltrasound has become an essential tool in clinical diagnosis. Traditionally, ultrasound was predominantly taught during postgraduate medical training. However, today ultrasound education is increasingly being incorporated into preclinical curricula of medical students.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo acquire ultrasound skills, students need access to educational resources for both theoretical and practical knowledge. Effective training depends on the availability of educational content, training opportunities, and facilities - all of which are often scarce. E-learning platforms, simulation, and ultrasound skills labs are potential solutions to complement supervised real-life bedside training on patients and improve ultrasound education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltrasound diagnostics is a widely used, radiation-free, cost-effective, and bedside-applicable imaging technique. Given its numerous advantages and broad application, it appears reasonable to integrate practical use and theory into medical education at an early stage. Since the content of student ultrasound courses varies significantly on an international scale, the aim of this paper is to establish foundations for a more standardized approach to student's ultrasound education (SUSE) especially with focus on abdominal ultrasound.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the recently published 2021 European Resuscitation Council Guidelines on Adult Advanced Life Support, focused echocardiography was upgraded to a target recommendation. Several key recommendations were made, including that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) should only be used during CPR performed by experienced users and prolonged interruptions longer than 10 s (as accepted for pulse checking) during chest compressions should be avoided. Ultrasound does not replace clinical evaluation nor awareness of the clinical scenario.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltrasound of the scrotum plays a crucial role in assessing acute scrotal conditions in the Emergency Department. Although the Emergency Physician and Intensivist have shared responsibility for the care of the critically ill patient, the Emergency Physician typically uses Point-of-care Ultrasound in a broader range of applications than the intensivist to include advanced abdominal, obstetric, testicular, musculoskeletal, and ocular ultrasonography. Acute scrotum refers to the sudden onset of scrotal erythema, swelling, or pain, and it is not a rare condition in the Emergency Department.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife (Basel)
February 2025
Diaphragm ultrasound makes it possible to diagnose diaphragmatic atrophy and dysfunction. Important indications include unclear dyspnea; diaphragmatic elevation; assessment of diaphragm dysfunction in pulmonary, neuromuscular and neurovascular diseases; and in critically ill patients before noninvasive and mechanical ventilation and follow-up of diaphragm thickness and function during mechanical ventilation with potential prediction of prolonged weaning. In patients with respiratory insufficiency and potential diaphragm dysfunction, it is possible to objectify the contribution of diaphragm dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure occurs in approximately 50% of insertions. Unexpected PIVC failure leads to treatment delays, longer hospitalizations, and increased risk of patient harm. In current practice there is no method to predict if PIVC failure will occur until it is too late and a grossly obvious complication has occurred.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltrasound Med Biol
March 2025
Artificial intelligence (AI) is defined as the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence. At present, AI has been widely used in a variety of ultrasound tasks, including in point-of-care ultrasound, echocardiography, and various diseases of different organs. However, the characteristics of ultrasound, compared to other imaging modalities, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), poses significant additional challenges to AI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Medical education, especially in ultrasound training, is undergoing significant changes. This study examines practical issues in ultrasound medical education, emphasizing state-of-the-art teaching methods, their effectiveness, and implementation challenges.
Methods: The study analyzed advancements in ultrasound education, including randomized controlled trials comparing peer-to-peer teaching with traditional faculty-led instruction.
Med Ultrason
June 2025
Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) can be useful as a tool before, during and after the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Before or after resuscitation it can help with monitoring unstable hemodynamics, has the potential to identify reversible causes if patient deteriorates. During resuscitation POCUS can help detect potentially treatable causes of the cardiac arrest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: This meta-analysis evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) for bone fractures over the past 47 years, comparing it to established imaging standards.
Material And Methods: We adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines to search Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library using tailored search strategies. The primary outcome, US diagnostic performance, was analyzed across various subgroups including clinical relevance, patient age, and anatomical considerations.
Z Gastroenterol
October 2024
Ultrasound is used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced life support (ALS). However, there is divergence between the recommendations of many emergency and critical care societies who support its use and the recommendations of many international resuscitation organizations who either recommend against its use or recommend it only in limited circumstances. Ultrasound offers potential benefits of detecting reversable causes of cardiac arrest, allowing specific interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs an extension of the clinical examination and as a diagnostic and problem-solving tool, ultrasound has become an established technique for clinicians. A prerequisite for high-quality clinical ultrasound practice is adequate student ultrasound training. In light of the considerable heterogeneity of ultrasound curricula in medical studies worldwide, this review presents basic principles of modern medical student ultrasound education and advocates for the establishment of an ultrasound core curriculum embedded both horizontally and vertically in medical studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagnostics (Basel)
December 2023
Background: COVID-19 continues to circulate around the world with multiple different strains being active at once. While diagnosis with antigen and molecular testing is more readily available, there is still room for alternative methods of diagnosis, particularly in out-of-hospital settings, e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterial blood gas, with subsequent radial arterial puncture as a simple access point, comprises a ubiquitous medical procedure in the diagnostic workup of patients admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea. Despite being a relatively safe and technically straightforward procedure, due to its considerable use, it is of vital importance to be able to promptly recognize its potential complications. We present the case of a 96-year-old female patient admitted to the emergency department with dyspnea and cough who underwent left radial arterial puncture for arterial blood gas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Dysphagia is a significant ischemic stroke complication that can lead to aspiration. Identification of at-risk patients can be logistically difficult and costly. Researchers investigated whether quantitative ultrasound assessment of hyoid bone movement during induced swallowing would predict failure of videofluoroscopy (VFS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), as determined by a penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) score.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimulation has been shown to improve clinical learning outcomes, speed up the learning process, and improve trainee confidence, while taking the pressure off initial face-to-face patient clinical areas. The second part of The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology state-of-the-art paper on the use of simulators provides a general approach on the practical implementation. The importance of needs assessment before developing a simulation-based training program is outlined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimulation has been shown to improve clinical learning outcomes, speed up the learning process and improve learner confidence, whilst initially taking pressure off busy clinical lists. The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) state of the art paper on the use of simulators in ultrasound education introduces ultrasound simulation, its advantages and challenges. It describes different simulator types, including low and high-fidelity simulators, the requirements and technical aspects of simulators, followed by the clinical applications of ultrasound simulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The purpose of this study is to provide expert consensus recommendations to establish a global ultrasound curriculum for undergraduate medical students.
Methods: 64 multi-disciplinary ultrasound experts from 16 countries, 50 multi-disciplinary ultrasound consultants, and 21 medical students and residents contributed to these recommendations. A modified Delphi consensus method was used that included a systematic literature search, evaluation of the quality of literature by the GRADE system, and the RAND appropriateness method for panel judgment and consensus decisions.
Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction calculation automation typically requires complex algorithms and is dependent of optimal visualization and tracing of endocardial borders. This significantly limits usability in bedside clinical applications, where ultrasound automation is needed most.
Aim: To create a simple deep learning (DL) regression-type algorithm to visually estimate left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) from a public database of actual patient echo examinations and compare results to echocardiography laboratory EF calculations.
Telemedicine has evolved over the past 50 years, with video consultations and telehealth (TH) mobile apps that are now widely used to support care in the management of chronic conditions, but are infrequently used in acute conditions such as emergencies. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand is growing for video consultations as they minimize health provider-patient interactions and thereby the risk of infection. Advanced applications such as tele-ultrasound (TUS) have not yet gained a foothold despite their achieving technical maturity and the availability of software from numerous companies for TUS for their respective portable ultrasound devices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF