The first Australian workshop on bedside ultrasound in the Emergency Department

Bedside ultrasound is not widely practised by emergency physicians in Australasia despite its use in Europe, Asia and North America, and an extensive medical literature on the subject. A workshop was organised at Auckland Hospital, aiming to introduce emergency physicians to the basics of emergency ultrasound. This article summarises the content of the programme, the responses from the participants and the principles that emerged at this workshop.

A standardised, 16-hour, emergency ultrasound curriculum was offered to 23 participants. Lectures with syllabus material were used to cover the following topics: basic ultrasound physics, pelvis, right upper quadrant, renal, aorta, trauma and echocardiography. Each participant received eight hours of hands-on ultrasound instruction. On completion of the course participants responded anonymously to a course appraisal questionnaire.

Twenty-one participants responded to the questionnaire (91% response rate). Delegates found the course informative and the material was considered relevant. Workshop objectives were met and the venue was appropriate. Most participants thought the practical sessions could be improved by decreasing the ratio of delegates to human models.

The first Australasian workshop on bedside ultrasound in the Emergency Department held in Auckland (February 1998) was successful in achieving its objectives. Focused emergency ultrasound can be taught to detect free intraperitoneal or pericardial fluid in trauma patients. There is a need for appropriate quality assurance and credentialling guidelines as more Australasian emergency departments consider the application of focused ultrasound.