Clinical Research Directory

Video-Based Versus Bedside eFAST Training in Final-Year Medical Students

This study compared two methods of teaching the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (eFAST) examination to final-year medical students. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a 60-minute standardized video-based training session or a 60-minute instructor-led bedside training session. Both groups received the same educational content, for the same duration, from the same instructor. Within one hour after completing the training, each participant performed an individual eFAST examination on a healthy volunteer. Performance was assessed by an evaluator who was unaware of the participant's training group, using an eFAST Image Acquisition Checklist. The study compared overall immediate eFAST performance between the two teaching methods and also examined performance in individual eFAST examination windows.

Point-of-care Ultrasound Utility in the Free Clinic Setting

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the clinical utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in patients receiving care in a free clinic or street medicine setting in Indianapolis. The main question it aims to answer is: How often is POCUS used during patient encounters in a free clinic setting, and how does it influence clinical decision-making? Participants who are receiving care from the street medicine team or the Indiana University School of Medicine Student Outreach Clinic and who undergo a clinically indicated POCUS exam as part of their regular medical care will have information from their ultrasound encounters recorded. Researchers will track the type of ultrasound performed, the findings, and whether the ultrasound changed the patient's medical management. Participants will also have a 30-day follow-up through electronic medical record review or phone/email contact to assess their clinical course and compare POCUS findings with any formal radiology studies if performed.

Cardiac point-of Care Ultrasound Training Pathway for Emergency Department Advanced Practice Providers

The aim of this study is to assess emergency medicine physician and advanced practice provider (APP) knowledge and technical skill in performance of a point-of-care ultrasound simulation and just-in-time training pathway to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of the ultrasound training program. By performing this study, we hope to create a standardized training model which could potentially facilitate point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) clinical performance and thereby improve patient care.

Central Venous Catheter Placement With Thoracic Ultrasound and Intracavity ECG Positioning

The goal of this interventional study is to assess the feasibility of two bedside techniques for confirming central venous catheter (CVC) placement and detecting complications: * Intracavity ECG monitoring to confirm internal jugular vein CVC tip position. * Thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to rule out pneumothorax following CVC insertion. Participants who require an internal jugular CVC as part of their routine care and meet all inclusion and no exclusion criteria will be randomised to receive either: * Standard care, or * The intervention, consisting of intracavity ECG guidance and thoracic POCUS. The CVC will be inserted either on the left or right side of the neck. All participants will undergo a post-procedure chest X-ray regardless of study arm, to allow comparison of the intervention methods with standard care.

Assessment of LVOT VTI in Healthy Volunteers

Healthy subjects will have transthoracic echocardiography evaluation of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Velocity-Time Integral (LVOT VTI) performed by operators after brief training.

The Spotlight Study: Early Identification of Post-Surgical Infections Using Bedside Ultrasound.

Introduction: The goal of this observational study is to learn whether point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help detect early fluid build-up under the skin after open abdominal surgery (laparotomy) and whether these findings can predict surgical site infection. The study includes adults who recently had emergency or planned open abdominal surgery. Hypothesis: The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does ultrasound identify subcutaneous fluid collections early after surgery? 2. Do these fluid collections help predict which participants will develop a surgical site infection? Intervention: Participants will: 1. Have a superficial wound swab taken once at the start of the study (for research only). 2. Receive three ultrasound scans of their surgical wound during days 1-3, 4-6, and 7-9 after surgery. 3. Have their wound checked for redness, swelling, tenderness, or discharge before each scan. 4. Be followed for 7 and 30 days after surgery (and up to 90 days if they have implanted mesh) to see whether an infection develops. Ultrasound is non-invasive and safe. According to the protocol, "no serious adverse effects are expected," though some participants may feel brief discomfort from pressure on a tender wound. This study will help researchers understand whether routine bedside ultrasound can support earlier detection of wound infections and improve postoperative care in the future.

Internal Jugular Vein Ultrasound for Volume Status Assessment in Haemodialysis

To Evaluate accuracy of Internal Jugular Vein Point-of-Care ultrasound for volume status evaluation in chronic haemodialysis

Evaluation of an Online Application for Point of Care Ultrasound Training in General Internal Medicine Residents

This study compares Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training in two hospitals, one that uses an online application for supervision and one that does not use the application. The goal of this trial is to learn if POCUS supervision using the online application is associated with improved POCUS skills in residents in General Internal Medicine (GIM). The main question it aims to answer is: \- Do POCUS skills improve more during 6 months in GIM residents supervised using the application than in GIM residents who do not use the application? Further questions the study aims to answer are: * Do residents using the application perform more POCUS exams during 6 months than residents not using the application? * Are residents using the application more satisfied with their POCUS training than residents not using the application?

Italian Data Registry of Patients Undergoing Peripheral Nerve Block Performed in the Emergency Departments

This data registry aim is to describe the practice of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Guided Regional Anaesthesia (POCUS-GRA) in emergency departments of nosocomial hospitals where, the organizational structure, has already provided for the implementation of peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) in common clinical practice for the treatment of acute pain due to bone fractures.

Gastric Emptying Time in Traumatic Injuries

The investigators plan to do serial sonographic examinations of the gastric antrum (quantity, quality) to estimate the gastric emptying time and dependant factors after traumatic injurys.