RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ultrasound guidance has become an integral component to procedural and diagnostic practice for the emergency physician. Whereas landmark-guided methods were used for peripheral nerve blocks in the past, the use of ultrasound has made regional anesthesia procedures faster, more successful, and feasible as a pain management modality in the emergency department. Not only the utilization, but also the teaching of ultrasound has become an essential aspect of emergency medicine residency training. Prior studies have found a substantial variation in practice and policies with regard to ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) and this translates to the education of both residents and fellows. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to describe the current state of UGRA education, trends, and barriers in emergency medicine residency and ultrasound fellowship programs in the United States. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted via the Internet utilizing the Qualtrics software platform. It was distributed to ultrasound directors and program directors of both Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited emergency medicine residency programs and ultrasound fellowships. Data analysis, cross-tabulation, and subgroup analysis were performed utilizing the software. RESULTS: We received a total of 138 responses (response rate of 66.3%). There was substantial variability with regard to implementing UGRA education. Additionally, there was a trend correlating a greater likelihood of UGRA education among programs with more than two ultrasound faculty members. Faculty training is considered to be the greatest barrier to teaching UGRA to residents and fellows. CONCLUSION: Resident and fellow education with regard to UGRA varies significantly among individual programs. Although there are currently no ACGME or AOA guidelines, nearly all residency programs believe that this is a skill that emergency physicians should learn. With the identification of key barriers and the need for an increased number of trained faculty, pain management utilizing UGRA may become an integral part to emergency medicine resident and fellow education.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The use of ultrasound for procedural guidance is an essential skill in emergency medicine (EM) and a required Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competency for residents. Resident learners develop their skill set through hands-on training and may benefit from an intervention that encourages proper technique, bolsters confidence, and improves procedural success. Clear Guide ONE, a Food and Drug Administration-approved technology, overlays real-time virtual instrument navigation onto ultrasound displays to allow visualization of expected instrument trajectory prior to needle puncture, ensuring alignment with the target. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated computer-assisted instrument guidance as an educational tool for residents in a simulation environment. Primarily, the study evaluated residents' procedural speed and accuracy using ultrasound with and without the guidance device. METHODS: A total of 34 residents were observed performing ultrasound-guided needle placement in ballistic gel models with and without computer assistance in a simulation-based observational crossover study. Scan time before needle insertion, time to target, total procedure time, number of needle redirections, and procedural accuracy were measured. A total of 104 observations were recorded with 52 in each group. Paired-sample t-test analysis was used to compare group performance. Secondary outcomes were derived from survey data assessing resident opinions about the device. RESULTS: The computer-guidance group significantly outperformed the ultrasound-alone group in mean time to target, number of needle redirections, and procedural accuracy. There was no significant difference in mean scan time before needle insertion or total procedure time. Fifty percent of residents preferred the guidance system. Most residents (67%, n = 23) reported that the device increased confidence and the majority (94%, n = 32) reported perceived improvement in speed, accuracy, or both. CONCLUSIONS: Use of computer assistance technology for sonographic instrument guidance was successful in improving procedural accuracy, number of needle redirections, and time to target performance metrics and was well received by residents. This educational study suggests that this technology may emerge as a valuable tool in training EM residents to utilize ultrasound for procedures.