Module 1: Basic Principles and Knobology
The spleen and the liver are located on opposite sides of the body. Which directional term would be used to describe their relationship?
What is contralateral?
A highly skilled medical professional who uses special equipment that emits ultrasound to create diagnostic images of the human body.
What is a sonographer?
The most common area for workplace injuries in sonographers.
What is the shoulder?
Real-time ultrasound images in 3D.
What is 4D ultrasound?
During a Liver exam, the sonographer notices that the screen is too dark. What knobology setting should be adjusted in order to brighten the image?
What is increase the overall gain?
What are the differences between short, medium, and long-term goals?
Short-term; urgent, medium-term; reachable in 1-5 years, long-term; achievable in over 5 years
The scientific study of creating tools and equipment that help the human body adapt to the work environment.
What is ergonomics?
The father of ultrasound.
Who is Abbe Lazzaro Spallanzani?
A sonographer is performing an aorta examination, and their image is well optimized everywhere except at the depth of the proximal aorta, where excessive gain at that depth is causing faint background echoes within the lumen. Should the sonographer adjust overall gain or TGC to optimize the image, and why?
What is Adjust the TGC slider at that specific depth?
After retrieving the next patient for their abdominal scan, the sonographer is being asked medical questions by the patient's partner about the patient's private medical information, while they are in a public space (the waiting room). How should they proceed, and why?
The sonographer should not answer any medical questions about the patient’s private medical information. Take the patient back privately to confirm, and then continue to have the conversation in private, with the partner if the patient consents.
During an exam on a larger patient, the sonographer notices that they are reaching over the patient to do the exam, and there is a lot of strain on their elbow and shoulder, from the elevated angle. What should they do in order to minimize the risk of an injury?
Adjust the table height, ask the patient to scoot closer on the table, and lower their arm and shoulder. Stand, if needed.
A patient comes in with RUQ pain, and a history of cirrhosis. During the examination, the sonographer has the finding of possible dilated portal veins. What imaging mode should the sonographer use to confirm the blood flow direction in the portal veins.
What is color Doppler?
During a scan of the right lobe of the liver, there is a lot of excessive depth, making the liver look small, with a lot of dead space underneath. The image is also too bright, adding difficulty when comparing the echogenicity of the liver’s parenchyma with the kidney’s cortex. What two button functions can be used to optimize this image, and which should be used first, and why?
What is First, decrease the depth in order to make the liver fill more of the screen. Then, decrease the overall gain.
During clinicals, a sonography student is working in the ER. A particularly frustrated patient is making for a difficult scan, and the student is becoming very flustered and overwhelmed, which is in turn making the patient upset, asking for a different sonographer. What steps can the sonography student take to de-escalate the situation, and why?
First, the sonographer needs to regulate their own emotions in order to stay professional. Then, the sonographer should show empathy and kindness to the frustrated patient, acknowledge their frustration, and communicate clearly and kindly. Finally, the sonographer should contact their preceptor or supervisor and explain the situation, and ask for assistance in order to respect the patient’s wishes for a new sonographer.
Unfortunately, a sonographer has developed a shoulder injury after improper transducer positioning and posture, and now needs to recover. What are some forms of treatment the sonographer can use to support recovery, and how can they prevent a future injury?
Working with a qualified physician for their best course of action, physical therapy, chiropractic care, massages, and rest can help support recovery. Using ergonomic devices and being mindful of positioning and posture in the future can reduce risk of further injury, or new injury.
During a routine obstetrics exam, the sonographer raises some concerns about the fetal heart, and the mother notes that her family has a history of congenital heart defects. What specialized exam would be used to examine the findings further?
What is fetal echocardiography?