FUSIC Abdomen, Vascular & DVT Course

The FUSIC Abdomen, Vascular & DVT Course is a one-day intensive training programme designed for intensive care clinicians seeking accreditation in three essential areas of point-of-care ultrasound. Approved by the Intensive Care Society (ICS), the course combines focused lectures with extensive hands-on scanning sessions to ensure participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for FUSIC accreditation.

The course covers three distinct FUSIC modules:

• FUSIC Abdomen: systematic scanning of RUQ, LUQ, pelvis, kidneys and iliac fossae; recognition of liver, spleen, kidneys, bowel, bladder and reproductive structures; detection of intra-abdominal bleeding, ascites and hydronephrosis; differentiation of pleural vs abdominal fluid and full bladder vs pelvic fluid; bladder volume assessment and introduction to principles of ultrasound-guided paracentesis

• FUSIC Vascular: ultrasound-guided central and peripheral line insertion (in-plane and out-of-plane); identification and assessment of major vessels (IJV, femoral, antecubital, cephalic, basilic); differentiation of veins from arteries using B-mode and colour Doppler; assessment of vessel patency and identification of thrombosed vessels

• FUSIC DVT: identification of key vessels including common femoral and popliteal veins; systematic 1 cm compression along femoral and popliteal veins; use of B-mode and Doppler to confirm venous anatomy and assess for thrombus; Doppler techniques to evaluate venous flow, phasicity with respiration and augmentation with calf compression

The course begins with a review of fundamentals—ultrasound physics, image optimisation, probe selection and artefact recognition—before exploring each FUSIC module in detail. Delivery includes pre-course preparation videos, in-person lectures delivered by experienced ultrasound teachers covering scanning techniques and image interpretation, and extensive practical scanning sessions with healthy volunteers and state-of-the-art simulators. Participants receive approximately 3.5 hours of hands-on practice time under expert supervision. The course is led by intensive care and emergency medicine professionals with extensive experience in point-of-care ultrasound and is fully aligned with Intensive Care Society FUSIC accreditation requirements.