Sono-iBook: Intro to Bedside Ultrasound – great chapters/images/videos – Volume 1& 2 in iTunes! #FOAMed

LLLLLLLLet’s get ready to UltraSoooooooouuuuuuuuund!!!! It’s what we have all been waiting for! It’s finally here! Weighing at a meager zero pounds (since it’s on the iPAD, oh yeah!), another amazing product of Drs. Mike Mallin and Matt Dawson of ultrasoundpodcast fame, and authors including experts in bedside ultrasound from around the world (and little ole’ me too). I’d like to present the SECOND volume of the Introduction of Bedside Ultrasound ! And, as Mike and Matt say it best, “If you already own Volume 1….” (which include topics in basic ultrasound applications & more filled with visual image and video clip tutorials – unlike any other “text”book that you have ever owned!) “…..this is much better.  If you don’t yet own Volume 1….they’re equal…..get them both.” – Yes, trust me, you will not be disappointed. Take your iPAD to the bedside, place it on the ultrasound machine, or both to help guide your ultrasound education and that of others! Volume One pics:

Volume Two involves topics on TEE (which is an up and coming application of bedside ultrasound in cardiac arrest), MSK, Right Heart, EMS, Medical Education, Gallbladder, more Nerve Blocks (that’s where I come in..heehee , PIV, Soft Tissue, DVT, Appy, Peds, Diastology, and much more!  364 pages of interactive content, with HOURS of video demonstrations and tutorials. – doesn’t that make you drool!?! In volume two picture: …do you know what technique that is? you will…

To hear them speak on it, and to get a taste of perfection, go here.

 and 

SonoEvents: SonoGames, Castlefest2013, and the FREE Intro to Bedside Ultrasound iBook #FOAMed

This SonoGift is amazing! I could have sworn that I sent this earlier (and I think i did on Twitter and Facebook), but for whatever reason, it is in my blog’s draft folder, and I was shocked! – How dare I keep this away from everyone who follows SonoSpot?!!!! So, I apologize… from the bottom of my subxiphoid window (…ha! yes i know, I have many of them). If you’re getting this for the second time, then take it as a friendly reminder of how awesome the UltrasoundPodcast guys are to provide this amazing gift to everyone to learn the up-to-date info on bedside ultrasound applications… for free. Now, if you are getting this for the first time, you are going to LOVE it….. Why? Well, first off, it’s free (did I say that already?). And, if that wasnt enough, it’s the pdf version of the AWESOME iPAD download-able iBook of Introduction to Bedside Ultrasound from the UltrasoundPodcast crew, with chapters written by so many of my friends. If you purchase the iPAD version (for pretty cheap, if you ask me) (including the iPAD mini and retina display), you can view all the clips and videos placed by the authors/experts in bedside ultrasound – which truly makes it the best “book” on bedside ultrasound that I know. It’s worth it.

You know what else Im excited about? SonoGames Part Deux at SAEM - this time, our crew is going to make it after the first round!!! You all better watch out! A sneak peak at SonoGames last year by the serious yet humorous, heavy yet light, good yet talented UltrasoundPodcast and their hilarious interviews:

Oh, and did I mention Castlefest2013????!! Im so excited to join them at CastleFest2013 – ultrasound, castles, wine, and festivities?—what more could a Sonogirl ask for?! You can even be there virtually! Yes, they did think of everything.

SonoEquipment: How to make your own Ultrasound Gel – Guar gum, salt, and water #FOAMed

I saw an interesting blog post, sent to me by my ultrasound uncle, Dr. Chris Fox, that was on the: “Why Is American Healthcare so Expensive?” site entitled “How to Make Ultrasound gel: which is also sterile and edible and environmentally friendly” by Dr.Janice Boughton. Not only did the title catch my eye, but the content drew me even closer. If you are in need of gel – whether that’s because you are doing global health, disaster relief, or healthcare at any resource-limited area – there are ways to make it. Ive heard of a couple alternatives – and here is a way to make your own – that is also sterile, edible, and environmentally friendly.

As the blog post states: “Ultrasound requires an aqueous interface between the transducer and the skin or else all you see is black. Ultrasound gel is a clear goo, looks like hair gel or aloe vera, and is made by several companies out of various combinations of propylene glycol, glycerine, perfume, dyes, phenoxyethanol or carbapol R 940 polymer along with lots of water.” – not easy to find, and ot so cheap either. So, she set out and tried six different recipes – yup, that’s right – SIX! …and made the below gel (see pic) from guar gum (found in the flour section of stores), salt and water:

“Guar gum is available in the flour section of many grocery stores and costs about $10 for a 220 gram bag. It is purported to be good for diarrhea, constipation, diabetes and lowering cholesterol.” – how cool is that?!

1. Mix 2 teaspoons of guar gum with 1-2 teaspoons of salt. (The amount of salt isn’t vitally important since it is just added to keep the guar gum from clumping. Using slightly less than a teaspoon of salt per 2 cups makes a gel with which is isotonic, which would be ideal for use near eyes or other mucus membranes or on open wounds).

2. Boil two cups of water.

3. Slowly sprinkle the guar gum/salt mixture into the boiling water while stirring vigorously with a fork or whisk.

4. Boil for about 1-2 minutes until thick and well mixed.

5. Cool before using. Save lives.

To read more about her plight – click here. Thanks Janice!

Below is a video on how to do it made by her too:

SonoTexts: JAMA review on ultrasound texts – and a list of some of the best

I was flipping through the most recent issue of JAMA and noticed 2 book reviews in the end, both of which had to do with point-of-care ultrasound – yes! Its probably the only thing that would stop me in mid-bite of my midnight snack. One of the books highlighted is by Hadzic, a regional anesthesia book which recently added a section on US-guided nerve blocks – hot topic these days as has been well studied and taught by Mike Stone, Arun Nagdev, and others. Of course, the review done by Chris Moore about Chris Fox’s book, Atlas of Emergency Ultrasound was what got my attention: quite matter of fact about point-of-care ultrasound, which I appreciate. I loved that Chris Fox’s book is highlighted in JAMA. Period. Disclaimer: I am biased as he is the one who made me into an US believer during my residency at UC Irvine, and was the first SonoFiler I wrote about – great guy and good friend.

My favorite part of the review:

SonoLinks: new links to awesome US educational sites/texts/apps

Since the last installment of SonoLinks, there have been several more awesome US related websites/links that 1) I have found in my search for more, 2) are new ones that just came on to the horizon or 3) I totally forgot to add before – - –  They are all free! They are all listed on our Blogroll (scroll down, on the right of the screen) that we keep updated. If anyone knows of any other great sites, send them on over!

SonoCloud – a new and excellent website for free and easy visualization, downloading, uploading, and learning of US clips and images – by Matt & Mike (of Ultrasound Podcast) and Mike Stone (current ACEP US Section President). Can you say A-W-E-S-O-M-E! You can help fill up their library of clips by downloading your own on there too.

WikiSpaces to De-identify/Crop/Edit your image/Clip – thanks to Ben Smith for creating and sharing! A great way to post/share your stills and clips without violating HIPAA by cropping out the MRN/patient name. A simple way to keep you out of HIPAA jail.

EchoBasics – Mereles, a cardiologist from Paraguay, has an excellent website of all things cardiac echo, from basic to advanced evaluations, including explanations and clips, and even 3D and 4D clips! very cool.

ICU Sonography – along the same lines as above, there are a couple sites that are worth mentioning for ICU Sonography: Beth Israel’s website and Stanford’s website. Great review/images of critical care US and echo/IVC.

Yale’s Atlas of Echo – a complete site of everything you need to know about cardiac echo

Neuraxiom – A great website for US guided regional nerve blocks!

Sonic Nerve Blocks – another excellent website by Sanjay Sinha, an anesthesiologist at the University of Connecticut, to review all US guided nerve blocks

EFSUMB – free US textbook reviewing US applications (and includes resource limited US utilization and HIV related views)

Partners in Health book – an excellent manual for US use in resource poor/limited settings by Sachita Shah et al.

SonoWorld – an all-inclusive website that has cases, lectures, images, and articles

Ultrasound Village - another all-inclusive site with from our colleagues in Australia filled with lectures, images, and quizzes!

Qstream – a great free way to test your US skills through email question and answers by Sam Ko.

Other organizations that deserve mention in addition to ACEP include:  SAEM (who have narrated lectures),  AIUM (which is an organizer of the UltrasoundFirst project), WFUMB, and WINFOCUS

Emergency US Fellowships – in the time of application review, I thought I would send out the link for those interested in applying for emergency US fellowships

Emergency US Research articles – Chip Schmier does a GREAT job in sending out the new US related research articles every month; allows us to feel “in the know” when our colleagues ask us questions about it.

And… a website for free medical education testing and media sharing using a social networking and incentive paradigm: GMEP  – Global Medical Education Project – as you can see SonoSpot has already created a folder and adding to it with US images of all applications.

SonoLinks: The websites, smartphone apps you need to know for Bedside US

A list of awesome sites and apps for bedside US: whether that be for viewing lectures, US videos/images of normal/abnormal pathology, learning the technique for each application, or to get all that you need to know on your smartphone – you’ll love these! This is not a complete list, but ones that I have found to be great! If you know of any others, feel free to list in the comments.

ACEP US Section – for all the needs of emergency physicians who perform US, credential others, direct US programs and much more!

SAEM US Academy - is a community within the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine. AEUS provides an international forum bringing together bedside clinician sonologists with the common goal of advancing patient care

Bedside US and the Stanford 25 – The Stanford 25 is a list of 25 dependent physical diagnosis maneuvers to help with the physical exam and medical education, one of which is bedside US

Society of US in Medical Education – this link takes you to the learning modules, but if you press “Home” you will see how amazing this society is for enhancing US education.

Emergency Ultrasonography – this site is a great go-to for providing the foundation for a basic understanding of Emergency Ultrasound through lectures, modules, testing

EMSono – a great site which is a comprehensive emergency ultrasound education website that also provides you with free teaching modules through the SonoBridge. It also provides the ACEP test for bedside US.

SonoGuide – An excellent free online site to learn all that there is to know with regard to bedside US

SoundBytes – a great CME download and set of lectures !

Ultrasound Podcast – a very fun and cool way to learn bedside US through two very funny guys! They also bring you the iPhone app: 1-Minute Ultrasound

Ultrasound SHARE – a great site for a library for all the US videos/images you ever want to see!

US Guided Nerve Blocks – a complete source for all you want to knwo in regard to US guided Nerve blocks.

ViewSono – great video tutorials are short format case based reviews of core ultrasound procedures in emergency medicine, critical care and regional anesthesia

Vimeo US images and videos – an awesome site to see every US related video you’ll ever want to see!

There are quite a few smart phone apps and iTunes videos that can help while you are on the run, train, plane, or riding in the back of a harley:

1-Minute Ultrasound

Emergency Medicine Ultrasound

Dr. Chris Fox’s Emergency US lectures

Pocket Atlas of Emergency Ultrasound

SonoAccess