Lesson 1Standardised views and sequence: lung zones (anterior/lateral/posterior as feasible), cardiac FoCUS, IVC, focused lower-extremity venous examOutlines a practical, repeatable scanning order for dyspnoeic patients, including anterior, lateral, and posterior lung zones where possible, then focused cardiac views, IVC check, and targeted lower limb venous exam to smooth workflow.
Anterior and lateral lung zone scanning protocolPosterior lung assessment when positioning allowsFocused cardiac views sequence in unstable patientsIVC imaging within the integrated examFocused lower extremity venous compression sequenceLesson 2Clinical priorities for acute dyspnoea with heart failure history: hypoxia, pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic shock, thromboembolismSets immediate priorities for dyspnoeic heart failure patients, using POCUS to swiftly check hypoxia, pulmonary oedema, cardiogenic shock, and thromboembolism, blending with clinical data to guide triage, stabilisation, and care escalation.
Initial airway, breathing, circulation assessmentPOCUS for rapid hypoxia and shock stratificationIdentifying cardiogenic versus noncardiogenic oedemaScreening for right heart strain and thromboembolismRisk stratification and disposition decisionsLesson 3Machine settings for lung and cardiac imaging: depth, harmonics, lung presets, cardiac presetsExplains ultrasound machine tweaks for lung and cardiac views, covering depth, gain, harmonics, presets, and storage to better see B-lines, pleural edges, heart chambers, and IVC movement in tricky patients.
Depth and focus adjustments for lung and pleuraGain, dynamic range, and time-gain compensationUse of harmonics and artefact optimisationSelecting and modifying lung and cardiac presetsImage labelling, clips, and documentation settingsLesson 4Common limitations and pitfalls: B-line aetiologies beyond cardiogenic oedema, body habitus and probe limitations, false-negative DVT scansTackles usual limits and traps in lung-cardiac-venous POCUS, like non-heart causes of B-lines, body shape and probe issues, partial venous checks, and bias, with ways to cut false comfort and wrong diagnoses.
Noncardiogenic causes of diffuse B-linesImpact of obesity and subcutaneous emphysemaRecognising incomplete or poor-quality venous scansAvoiding overreliance on a single POCUS findingChecklists, second looks, and documentationLesson 5POCUS targets: lung comet-tail B-lines, pleural effusion, cardiac function, IVC and lower extremity DVT scanningDetails main POCUS aims in acute dyspnoea: lung B-lines and pleural effusions, overall and local cardiac function, plus IVC and lower limb venous scans to spot congestion, right heart strain, and DVT adding to symptoms.
Scanning for comet-tail B-lines and A-line patternsDetection and characterisation of pleural effusionsFocused assessment of LV and RV systolic functionIVC size and collapsibility for volume statusLower extremity venous DVT compression protocolLesson 6Management decisions based on findings: diuretics, noninvasive ventilation, vasodilators, need for ICU or cardiology input, anticoagulation for DVT/PE suspicionDemonstrates turning POCUS findings into bedside actions: adjusting diuretics, vasodilators, and non-invasive ventilation, deciding on anticoagulation for possible DVT or PE, and gauging need for ICU or urgent cardiology help.
Adjusting diuretics based on congestion patternsUsing POCUS to guide noninvasive ventilation useVasodilator and inotrope decisions in shock statesAnticoagulation when DVT or PE is suspectedCriteria for ICU transfer and cardiology inputLesson 7Interpreting POCUS patterns: cardiogenic pulmonary oedema vs ARDS vs pneumonia vs pneumothoraxExplains combining lung, cardiac, and venous POCUS to tell cardiogenic pulmonary oedema from ARDS, pneumonia, and pneumothorax, stressing pattern spotting, vital signs integration, and awareness of overlapping signs.
Diffuse B-lines and pleural features in cardiogenic oedemaHeterogeneous B-lines and consolidations in ARDSFocal consolidation and dynamic air bronchograms in pneumoniaAbsent lung sliding and lung point in pneumothoraxReconciling discordant lung and cardiac findingsLesson 8When to stop relying on POCUS: need for chest radiograph, CT pulmonary angiography, formal echocardiography, invasive monitoringDefines when POCUS isn't enough alone and more is needed, like chest X-ray, CT pulmonary angiography, formal echo, or invasive monitoring in unstable or complex cases requiring advanced care.
Red flags requiring immediate CT pulmonary angiographyIndications for formal comprehensive echocardiographyRole of chest radiograph in complex lung findingsWhen to pursue invasive haemodynamic monitoringDocumenting uncertainty and communicating limitsLesson 9Anatomical landmarks and dynamic signs: A-lines vs B-lines, lung sliding, pleural effusion layering, LV systolic function, IVC collapsibilitySpotlights key anatomic landmarks and moving ultrasound signs in lung-cardiac-venous POCUS, like A-lines, B-lines, lung sliding, pleural effusion layers, LV systolic function, and IVC collapsibility for quick, spot-on bedside reads.
Recognising A-lines and B-lines in lung windowsAssessing lung sliding and lung pulseIdentifying and grading pleural effusion layeringVisual estimation of LV systolic functionMeasuring IVC diameter and collapsibilityLesson 10Probe choices and rationale: phased-array for cardiac, curvilinear for lung and pleural, linear for DVT and superficial pleural detailReviews probe picks and reasons for acute dyspnoea POCUS, with phased-array for heart and IVC, curvilinear for lung and pleura, linear for DVT and surface pleural detail, plus tips for quick switches in resuscitation.
Phased-array probe for cardiac and IVC imagingCurvilinear probe for lung and pleural assessmentLinear probe for DVT and superficial pleural detailProbe selection in obese or oedematous patientsEfficient probe switching and infection control
