ULTRASOUND PHANTOMS MADE OF GELATIN COVERED WITH HYDROCOLLOID SKIN DRESSING

Background: Ultrasound-guided invasive procedures, such as central venous catheter insertion, soft-tissue abscess drainage, and foreign-body removal are essential competencies for Emergency Physicians. Such competencies can be trained using ultrasound phantoms. Objective: Our aim is to describe ultrasound phantoms that are easily made, inexpensive, reusable, and can withstand multiple punctures. Methods: Previously recommended gelatin-only ultrasound phantoms have inadequate surface tension resulting in surface disruption, and cannot tolerate multiple punctures when simulating cyst drainage. Results: By covering the gelatin phantom with a hydrocolloid skin dressing, we are able to minimize physical surface disruption (by transducer or needles) and might reduce biological breakdown due to bacterial propagation. Conclusions: The elements required to construct homemade reusable ultrasound phantoms are inexpensive and can be easily obtained. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.