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Fig. 2 | Pilot and Feasibility Studies

Fig. 2

From: Pre-clinical medical student cardiac point-of-care ultrasound curriculum based on the American Society of Echocardiography recommendations: a pilot and feasibility study

Fig. 2

Excellent quality reference (A) and examples of acceptable (B) and poor quality (C) images of 5 cardiac POCUS views. Legend: Excellent quality reference images (A) refer to 5 cardiac POCUS views obtained by the cardiologist (MI) on the healthy volunteer (SJ) used for all skill tests. Examples of acceptable (B) and poor quality (C) images refer to the 5 views obtained by medical students on the volunteer. The excellent quality reference image (A) of the PLAX demonstrates all 7 structures (LA, LV, LVOT, RV, AV, MV, and IVS); the PSAX demonstrates all 4 structures (round LV, RV, papillary muscles, and IVS); the A4C demonstrates all 8 structures (LA, LV, RA, RV, MV, TV, IAS, and IVS); the S4C demonstrates all 7 structures (LA, LV, RA, RV, IAS, IVS, and liver); and the SIVC visualizes the IVC in a longitudinal fashion, the clear connection of IVC to RA, and the IVC diameter ≥ 1.0 cm at 2 cm from RA-IVC junction. The acceptable quality image (B) of the PLAX does not visualize AV; the PSAX is the mitral level of parasternal long-axis view, not the papillary muscle level; the A4C demonstrates a severely foreshortened LV; the S4C misses the LA and adds the aortic outflow (5-chamber view); and the SIVC does not visualize a clear connection of IVC to RA. The poor quality image (C) of the PLAX does not visualize the AV and the LV is severely foreshortened; the PSAX does not demonstrate a round LV and misses the papillary muscles; the A4C demonstrates a severely foreshortened LV and misses the LA; the S4C misses the RV and does not visualize the LA and the LV well; the SIVC demonstrates the descending aorta instead of the IVC.

POCUS, point-of-care ultrasound; PLAX, parasternal long-axis view; PSAX, papillary muscle level of parasternal short-axis view; A4C, apical 4-chamber view; S4C, subcostal 4-chamber view; SIVC, subcostal inferior vena cava view; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; LVOT, left ventricle outflow tract; RV, right ventricle; AV, aortic valve; MV, mitral valve; IVS, interventricular septum; RA, right atrium; TV, tricuspid valve; IAS, interatrial septum; IVC, inferior vena cava

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