Salivary gland ultrasound training: Improving anatomic identification in residents

The aim of the study was to introduce and study the role of standardized views for ultrasound of the major salivary glands in resident learning and retention.

Methods description and prospective case series.

Five otolaryngology residents and two patient models were recruited for this study. The participants were timed on their identification of the submandibular gland, sublingual gland, and parotid gland and associated key anatomic structures. Participants were then timed again immediately after being presented a standardized view for each salivary gland: the longitudinal submandibular gland, transverse parotid gland, and submental transverse views. The same participants were then timed one month later to determine retention. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate whether time to identification was equal pre- and post-standardized view instruction.

There was a significant improvement from pre- to post-standardized view instruction in all glands, which was sustained one month later. Practically speaking, assessment times for all participants at the one-month measurement were reasonable, with averages of 71, 42, and 114 s for the submandibular gland, sublingual gland, and parotid gland respectively.

Standardized views provided otolaryngology ultrasonography learners with a reliable, fast, and memorable way to assess the salivary glands and their related structures.

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