Curriculum
Education
A complete two-year curriculum spanning every core POCUS domain — from FAST to advanced cardiac.
Hepatobiliary Ultrasound
Cholecystitis, Biliary Dilation, and Hepatic Doppler
This week's focus covers the fundamentals of hepatobiliary scanning, including gallbladder assessment, common bile duct measurement, and advanced hepatic artery Doppler waveform interpretation for acute cholecystitis.
Key Points
- • Normal gallbladder wall thickness < 3mm
- • Common bile duct dilation > 6mm is significant
- • Hepatic artery resistive index > 0.75 suggests cholecystitis
- • Murphy's sign under direct ultrasound visualization
Resources
- → CORE Ultrasound Biliary Module
- → ACEP POCUS Guidelines - Biliary
- → HAD-CHOLE Fellowship Protocol
Core Ultrasound Modules
FAST Exam
Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma — detect free fluid in peritoneal, pericardial spaces
Cardiac
Emergency echocardiography — global function, pericardial effusion, wall motion
Aorta
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening and measurement techniques
Biliary/Hepatic
Gallbladder assessment, bile duct dilation, hepatic Doppler waveforms
Renal
Kidney size, hydronephrosis, renal calculi — rapid bedside evaluation
OB/GYN
First trimester emergencies, intrauterine pregnancy confirmation, ectopic evaluation
Soft Tissue
Abscess identification, foreign body detection, cellulitis vs abscess differentiation
Lung
Pneumothorax, pleural effusion, lung consolidation — A and B lines
Vascular
DVT evaluation, vascular access, IVC assessment for volume status
MSK
Musculoskeletal injuries, tendon pathology, joint effusions, nerve blocks
Procedures
Ultrasound-guided procedures — central lines, paracentesis, thoracentesis
Curriculum Materials
POCUS Fellowship Curriculum Guide
PDFComplete year-long fellowship curriculum with learning objectives and milestones
Hepatic Doppler Interpretation Slides
PPTXLecture slides: hepatic artery waveforms, resistive index, cholecystitis findings
Cardiac POCUS Reference Card
PDFQuick reference for cardiac views, measurements, and pathology identification
FAST Exam Protocol Manual
PDFStandardized FAST protocol with image acquisition tips and interpretation guidance
Lung Ultrasound Mastery Workbook
PDFInteractive workbook covering A-lines, B-lines, consolidation, pneumothorax patterns
External Resources
ACEP POCUS Section
Professional SocietyAmerican College of Emergency Physicians — Point-of-Care Ultrasound resources, policies, and guidelines
SAEM POCUS
Academic SocietySociety for Academic Emergency Medicine — educational resources and research in emergency ultrasound
FUSIC Guidelines
GuidelinesFocused Ultrasound in Intensive Care — ICU ultrasound competency and training standards
EDE Bundle
ProtocolEmergency Department Echocardiography — standardized cardiac POCUS protocol for emergency physicians
POCUS 101
EducationalFree comprehensive online ultrasound education resource with tutorials, videos, and case reviews