Workshop

PRE-CONFERENCE POCUS WORKSHOP October 2nd, 2025

Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS): Science and Practice

This course offers nephrology and critical care providers an opportunity to build a strong foundation in Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), with a special emphasis on common pathologies seen in acutely ill patients. Through a combination of concise, high-yield lectures and interactive hands-on sessions, participants will develop essential skills in image acquisition and interpretation. By the end of the workshop, they will understand the key indications for POCUS, be able to distinguish normal from abnormal findings, and know how to incorporate these insights into clinical decision-making. The ultimate goal is to provide participants with practical skills that will empower them to advance their POCUS training confidently.

Learning Objectives: The core focus of this course is as follows:

1. Cardiac:
    A. Echocardiography techniques
    B. Qualitative assessment of chamber size
    C. Qualitative assessment of systolic and diastolic function

2. Thoracic:
    A. Qualitative assessment of pleural effusion size and characteristics
    B. Assessment of alveolar consolidation, pneumothorax
    C. Assessment of diaphragm function

3. Vascular and Vascular Access:
    A. Patency and caliber of main veins for catheter placement
    B. Identifying the presence of a thrombus
    C. Basic examination of an arteriovenous fistula/graft

4. Hemodynamic and Fluid Evaluation:
    A. Inferior vena cava visualization and assessment
    B. Venous Doppler assessment
    C. Estimating stroke volume / cardiac output

Schedule - Participants will be allocated into groups of 3-4. They will rotate through each of the stations to review the principles of image identification and interpretation and get hands-on experience with the ultrasound probes.

PRE-CONFERENCE CRRT NURSE TRACK WORKSHOP October 2nd, 2025

Aim
Empower critical care nurses with foundational knowledge, technical proficiency, and collaborative skills to safely and effectively manage Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) in ICU settings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Understand principles of CRRT, including modality selection (CVVH, CVVHD, CVVHDF), solute transport mechanics, and essential patient monitoring parameters.
2. Demonstrate hands-on CRRT circuit setup, initiation, troubleshooting, and safe operation consistent with real-world scenarios.
3. Identify and resolve common safety and quality issues—such as alarm management, fluid balance tracking, anticoagulation strategies, and reducing circuit downtime.
4. Appreciate the roles of multidisciplinary team members, including pharmacists, to facilitate integrated CRRT decision-making and patient-focused care.

Workshop Schedule (Total: 90 minutes)

Workshop: PD in AKI

Aim
To equip physicians with the knowledge, procedural expertise, and problem-solving skills necessary to initiate, manage, and troubleshoot Acute Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) in Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), through a combination of evidence-based lectures, global perspectives, and hands-on simulation training.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand global perspectives and clinical principles of Acute PD
• Demonstrate procedural competence in PD catheter access
• Perform PD catheter insertion using mannequins and porcine models.
• Apply point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to PD practice
• Use ultrasound to assess PD access and catheter position.
• Integrate POCUS into decision-making for safe and effective PD initiation.
• Perform PD exchanges and manage prescriptions
• Set up manual PD systems (twin bags, transfer sets, saline bags).
• Prescribe fill volumes, dwell times, and cycles tailored to clinical condition.
• Identify and troubleshoot complications through case-based learning
• Diagnose and respond to common PD issues (poor drainage, leaks, catheter dysfunction).
• Strengthen collaborative and system-level practice

Workshop Schedule

Part 1: Introductory Interactive Lectures (20 minutes)
   - Lecture 1 (10 mins): PD for AKI – Evidence and Clinical Benefits, Brett Cullis
   - Lecture 2 (10 mins): PD Access – Techniques and Considerations, All Faculty

Part 2: Hand on workshop
   Station 1: Hands-On PD Catheter Insertion
   Station 2: POCUS + Case-Based Troubleshooting