Ultrasound Assessment of the Pancreas

Sonography Fundamentals

Materials Included

Text
Video
Anatomy
Simulation
Quiz

This module teaches you how to prepare for and perform an ultrasound examination of the pancreas.

This module teaches you how to prepare for and perform an ultrasound examination of the pancreas. The interactive simulator provides three different scan scenarios, including normal and pathological cases. It enables students and practitioners to build or refresh knowledge and cognitive skills, and offers a safe online practice environment so you can prepare for the real clinical world. Ideal if you are studying for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) registry exams.

You’ll learn

to practice, perfect and test your skills in performing an ultrasound scan of the pancreas
to better visualize and understand the pancreas, and surrounding structures, with our 3D anatomical model
to identify the clinical symptoms of pancreatic disease
how to differentiate normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the pancreas
how to explain and demonstrate the use of breathing techniques to obtain optimal images of the pancreas
much more (see “Content” for more specific information)

Introduction

Step 0.1 - Basic physiology of the pancreas

Step 0.2 - Signs and symptoms of pancreatic disease

Step 1 - Preparation

Step 1.1 - Equipment preparation

Step 1.2 - Patient preparation

Step 1.3 - Operator preparation

Step 2 - Expose the abdomen and apply gel

Step 3 - Select the transducer and obtain images of the pancreas

Step 4 - Commence the pancreas system scanning protocol

Step 4.1 - Patient position

Step 4.2 - Scan Plane

Step 4.3 - Standard pancreas protocol image requirements

Step 4.4 - Annotations required

Step 4.5 - Sonographic features of a normal pancreas

Step 4.6 - Trouble shooting

Step 5 - Scan the pancreas in the transverse and longitudinal planes

Step 5.1 - Scan the head, neck, body, and tail of the pancreas in the transverse plane

Step 5.2 - Scan the head, neck, body, and tail of the pancreas in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.3 - Pathology of the parenchyma of the pancreas

Step 6 - Assess and measure the pancreatic duct

Step 6.1 - Measure the pancreatic duct in its long axis

Step 7 - Complete the procedure

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long