Student Coach Ultrasound of the Abdomen

Alexander Sachs was born in Cologne in 1984. During his study of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna (2006 – 2012), which he completed in October 2012, he served as a tutor in the project titled “Sono4You – Ultrasound from Students for Students” (Sono4You – Ultraschall von Studenten für Studenten). In March 2010 he was appointed in charge of the student body. Sachs was awarded a prize at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2011 for the best student’s project and presentation. The following year he established workshops at the above mentioned Congress, which is held every year in Vienna. Sachs now has several years of experience in ultrasonography and in teaching students, has conducted more than 200 tutorials, and is conversant with the tips and tricks as well as the knowledge required to assist students in performing ultrasound investigation of the abdomen. Alexander Sachs will soon be embarking on his specialist’s training as a radiologist at the General Hospital of Vienna. As a preliminary step, he served as a tutor for ultrasonography at the “Dreiländertreffen” (Three-Country Meeting) in Davos. Sachs is also a member of the Undergraduate Education Subcommittee of the European Society of Radiology, whose purpose is to improve, monitor, and establish radiology. Alexander Sachs is very glad to present the Student Coach for Ultrasound Investigation of the Abdomen as a book and an e-book.

Foreword Ultrasound is one of the most important contemporary imaging procedures in medicine. In skilled hands, it is immensely useful in several clinical specialties. In many situations ultrasound complements the physical examination. Whether in internal medicine, surgery or emergency medicine – ultrasound imaging of the abdomen can be performed at the bedside efficiently, rapidly, and without any radiation burden. To use the ultrasound technique effectively one needs to combine one’s knowledge of anatomy and function with the practical skills of performing the investigation. Appropriate communication with the patient is very important. It facilitates the investigation and also helps to explain the findings to the patient. Ultrasound can and should be learned during medical school. The indications and limitations of the technique should be known to the medical student. Its uses should be discussed and practiced in combination with one’s knowledge of anatomy and clinical aspects. A successful start does not call for much practice in using the device. Rather, one needs to know how to handle the device, its principal functions, and how one transfers the sectional image from the body to the monitor. Understanding and performing standard sections in a healthy abdomen is the next important step in gaining good comprehension of the technique at medical school so that one can perform diagnostic investigations successfully later on. Alexander Sachs communicates these aspects in the student coach “Ultrasound of the Abdomen” in a succinct manner. He also explains specific aspects of the procedure. His practical experience derived from serving as tutor and head of the project entitled “Sono4You” for four years, as well as his proximity to students at various levels of medical school, have given him the expertise to write this book. Alexander Sachs expresses the core aspects one needs to know in order to understand ultrasound investigation of the abdomen, in a language oriented to the student and substantiated with vivid images obtained with one of the most modern ultrasound devices. The author accompanies the student very effectively and helps the student to take his/her first steps in using the ultrasound device. I hope you are motivated by this book and enjoy learning and acquiring your basic skills in performing ultrasound investigations of the abdomen – as the start of a lifelong process. I am warmed by a young author’s commitment and passion in presenting and communicating these basic skills to medical students. Munich, October 2012 Prof. Dr. Martin Fischer, MME (Bern) Professor of Teaching and Training Research in Medicine Clinic at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich