title: Teaching a sonographically guided invasive procedure to first-year medical students using a novel finger transducer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The exposure to ultrasound technology in medicine is increasing at multiple training levels. Ultrasound transducers have evolved to provide higher-resolution imaging for more accurate structural identification, with few improvements in ease of use. This study investigated a novel finger ultrasound transducer used by first-year medical students conducting structural identification and practicing an invasive procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted on texts, specialty journals, and websites regarding the anatomy of internal jugular and subclavian vein central line placement with sonographic guidance and the use of a finger transducer. First-year medical students performed timed sonographically guided cannulation on the internal jugular and subclavian veins on a phantom torso and identified the internal jugular and subclavian veins on a healthy volunteer using the finger transducer and a conventional transducer. After exposure to both transducers, a survey was taken regarding transducer preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search revealed no studies comparing finger and classic transducers or sonographically guided central line techniques being conducted by first-year medical students. The students identified and cannulated the internal jugular and subclavian veins using both transducers. Survey results revealed that 70% of the students preferred the finger transducer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that first-year medical students could interpret sonographic anatomy while conducting a clinical procedure. The finger transducer proved successful in structure identification and was preferred to the classic transducer because of its combined tactile presence. This pilot study of a novel finger transducer showed the benefits of combining palpatory skills with ultrasound technology in teaching first-year medical students to perform invasive procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Anatomic Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest, Lebanon OR 97355, USA. bbenninger@westernu.edu
authors.forename: Brion
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benninger
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Taylor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Delamarter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013337:Students, Medical; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000193:education*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography