Lesson 1Clinical questions fi POCUS in shortness of breath an chest discomfort (eg. pump failure, pericardial effusion, major pneumothorax)Dis section defines key clinical questions fi heart an lung POCUS in breathlessness an chest pain, linkin symptoms to targetable pathologies such as pump failure, pericardial effusion, an pneumothorax to guide quick bedside decision-makin.
Clarifying the primary dyspnea complaintScreening for pump failure and low outputRuling out major pericardial effusionIdentifying tension or large pneumothoraxPrioritizing life threats vs minor findingsLesson 2Lung scannin zones an views: front, side, back; systematic scannin approachDis section details standardized lung scannin zones an views, includin front, side, an back regions, an teaches a systematic, reproducible scannin sequence dat minimizes missed pathology in acutely breathless patients.
Defining anterior lung scanning zonesDefining lateral lung scanning zonesDefining posterior lung scanning zonesStandardized scanning sequence for dyspneaAdapting zones for nonambulatory patientsLesson 3Standard heart windows fi focused exams: parasternal long axis, parasternal short axis, apical four-chamber, subxiphoid (subcostal)Dis section outlines standard heart windows fi focused exams, includin parasternal long an short axis, apical four-chamber, an subxiphoid views, wid emphasis pon probe landmarks, orientation, an common pitfalls in breathless patients.
Parasternal long axis acquisition stepsParasternal short axis at multiple levelsApical four-chamber view optimizationSubxiphoid cardiac and IVC assessmentCommon artifacts and window pitfallsLesson 4Patient communication an documentation templates fi heart an lung POCUS findingsDis section focuses pon clear patient communication bout POCUS purpose an results, shared decision-makin, an structured documentation templates dat capture key heart an lung findings, limitations, an follow-up recommendations.
Explaining POCUS purpose to patientsDiscussing preliminary versus final resultsDocumenting key cardiac POCUS elementsDocumenting key lung POCUS elementsStating limitations and follow-up plansLesson 5Clinical decision pathways: how specific POCUS findings change testin, treatment (diuretics, blood thinners), disposition, an need fi urgent transferDis section shows how specific heart an lung POCUS findings modify diagnostic testin, guide therapies such as diuretics or blood thinners, influence disposition decisions, an identify patients needin urgent transfer or higher level of care.
POCUS-guided diagnostic test selectionAdjusting diuretics using lung B-linesUsing RV findings to guide anticoagulationDisposition decisions from bedside POCUSCriteria for urgent transfer or escalationLesson 6Limits of focused heart an lung POCUS: image quality factors, differentiatin chronic vs acute findings, operator-dependent errors, an when to get formal echo/CT/respiratory consultDis section reviews technical an interpretive limits of focused heart an lung POCUS, includin body habitus, artifacts, chronic versus acute changes, operator bias, an clear thresholds fi escalatin to formal echo, CT, or specialty consultation.
Patient and body habitus image challengesArtifacts that mimic real pathologyDistinguishing chronic from acute findingsCommon operator and interpretation errorsWhen to obtain formal echo or CTTriggers for cardiology or pulmonary consultLesson 7Step-by-step scannin technique: patient positionin, probe placement, imagini planes, depth an gain adjustments fi heart an lung windowsDis section provides stepwise guidance fi focused heart an lung scannin, includin patient positionin, probe placement, imagini planes, depth an gain optimization, an troubleshootin strategies to improve window acquisition in breathless patients.
Optimal positioning for dyspneic patientsProbe orientation and hand ergonomicsSelecting and aligning imaging planesAdjusting depth, gain, and focusTroubleshooting poor acoustic windowsMaintaining patient comfort during scansLesson 8Probe choice an rationale fi focused heart an lung examsDis section reviews probe options fi focused heart an lung exams, comparin phased array, curvilinear, an linear transducers, an explains how frequency, footprint, an penetration influence image quality an clinical question selection.
Phased array probe indicationsCurvilinear probe strengths and limitsLinear probe uses in lung assessmentBalancing frequency and penetrationMatching probe choice to clinical questionLesson 9Interpretation of focused heart findings: LV pump function estimates, RV enlargement, pericardial effusion an tamponade physiology, valvular gross abnormalitiesDis section explains how to estimate LV pump function, recognize RV enlargement an strain, identify pericardial effusion an tamponade physiology, an screen fi major valvular abnormalities usin focused heart views at the bedside.
Visual estimation of LV systolic functionAssessing RV size and interventricular septumDetecting pericardial effusion and tamponadeScreening for gross valvular abnormalitiesIntegrating cardiac POCUS with vital signsLesson 10Interpretation of lung findings: A-lines, B-lines (widespread vs focal), lung slidin, consolidation wid air bronchograms, pleural effusionDis section covers recognition of normal A-lines, interpretation of B-lines as widespread or focal, assessment of lung slidin, identification of consolidation wid air bronchograms, an characterization of pleural effusions in the context of acute breathlessness.
Recognizing normal A-line lung patternDifferentiating focal versus diffuse B-linesAssessing lung sliding and pleural lineIdentifying consolidation and air bronchogramsCharacterizing pleural effusion on POCUS
