Ultrasound Assessment of the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract

Sonography Fundamentals

Materials Included

Text
Video
Anatomy
Simulation
Quiz

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

This module teaches you how to prepare for and perform an ultrasound examination of the gastrointestinal tract. 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 GI tract
to better visualize and understand the gastrointestinal tract anatomy, with our interactive 3D model, as well as the cross-sectional anatomy of the stomach and colon
how to differentiate normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the GI tract
how to obtain images of the gastrointestinal tract
how to explain and demonstrate the use of breathing techniques to obtain optimal images of the gastrointestinal tract
much more (see “content details” for more specific information)

Introduction

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 gastrointestinal tract

Step 4 - Commence the gastrointestinal tract scanning protocol

Step 4.1 - Patient position

Step 4.2 - Scan plane

Step 4.3 - Standard gastrointestinal tract protocol image requirements

Step 4.4 - Annotations required

Step 4.5 - Sonographic features of a normal gastrointestinal tract

Step 4.6 - Troubleshooting

Step 5 - Scan gastrointestinal tract in longitudinal and transverse planes

Step 5.1 - Scan the segment of bowel in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.2 - Scan the segment of bowel in the transverse plane

Step 5.3 - Scan the segment of bowel using color or spectral Doppler

Step 6 - Complete the procedure

Indications for ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract
Identify the gastrointestinal tract anatomy
Explain gastrointestinal physiology
List clinical symptoms of gastrointestinal tract disease
Gastrointestinal tract protocol:
- Patient preparation
- Transducer and preset selection
- Patient positioning
- Transducer positions
- Scan planes
- Identify and obtain sonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract
Explain and demonstrate the use of breathing techniques and graded compression to obtain optimal sonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract
Differentiate normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the gastrointestinal tract
Describe and identify pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract
Describe and identify abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract
Explain the Patient's Bill of Rights, HIPAA Privacy Rule, and Patient Safety Act

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