Advancing Point-of-Care Ultrasound Training in Medical Schools: Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Access Training Using Formalin-Embalmed Cadavers

This brief report examines the feasibility of using formalin-embalmed cadavers in training medical students to use ultrasound guidance to access the subclavian. This novel educational approach is discussed in the context of the ongoing integration of point-of-care ultrasound training into medical education. Additionally, this report explores how cadavers can provide practical, effective, and hands-on skills training opportunities for medical students to learn to perform common clinical procedures under ultrasound guidance. This report presents subjective and objective data evaluating the utility of teaching medical students to perform ultrasound-guided subclavian vein access on formalin-embalmed cadavers. Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ivins, UT. Twenty-five first-year medical students at Rocky Vista University. None. Pre and posttraining questionnaires were administered to assess each participant's self-confidence in using ultrasonography to access the subclavian vein of a cadaver. A statistically significant increase in participant self-confidence was observed across all questionnaire items from pre to posttraining. Objective evaluation consisted of a supervised skills test. Participants were evaluated on their ability to visualize the subclavian vein with ultrasound and achieve flashback of blood/embalming fluid into a syringe. During skills testing, the number of needle sticks and the time taken to achieve flashback were recorded for each participant. Twenty-three of the 25 participants were able to successfully complete the skills testing assessment. The formalin-embalmed cadaver can be a readily available and effective learning tool for medical education programs seeking to provide training opportunities in ultrasound-guided clinical procedures. The use of cadavers allows learners to train in a low stress and anatomically authentic environment without risk of patient discomfort.