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POCUS in Neonatal Emergencies
Crashing Infant and SAFE Protocols
An interactive, hands-on workshop focused on using point-of-care ultrasound in the rapid evaluation of the unstable infant.
About the POCUS Course
Gain practical experience using point-of-care ultrasound in neonatal emergencies through a focused, hands-on workshop combining expert instruction, live scanning, case-based learning, and simulator practice.
Course at a Glance
- Date: Wednesday, December 2
- Time: 3:30–7:30 PM
- Location: Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
- Course Fee: $500
- Who Should Attend: Neonatology, pediatric cardiac intensive care, pediatric critical care, and acute care providers with beginner to early-intermediate experience in POCUS.
- Capacity: Extremely limited
What You’ll Learn
Learn core ultrasound concepts, machine basics, and focused lung, cardiac, and abdominal views.
Practice image acquisition and probe orientation through guided live-model scanning.
Apply POCUS findings to rapid bedside assessment, triage, and escalation of care in unstable infants.
Course Agenda
Four hours of focused instruction, hands-on scanning, case-based learning, simulator practice, and interactive discussion.
3:30–3:40 PM Registration and Check-In
- Learner check-in
- Faculty equipment check
- Assign participants into two groups of 25 learners
3:40–3:50 PM Welcome and Course Overview
- Introductions
- Goals of the workshop
- Review of group flow and logistics
3:50–4:05 PM Didactic 1: Machine Basics and Core Views
- Probe selection and orientation
- Image acquisition essentials
- Focused lung, cardiac, and abdominal windows
- Common pitfalls in first-exposure scanning
4:05–4:20 PM Didactic 2: POCUS in the Crashing Infant
- Why POCUS matters in acute triage
- When to use it
- Core questions ultrasound can answer rapidly at the bedside
- Introduction to the SAFE/crashing infant framework
4:25–5:45 PM Interactive Breakout Breakout Session 1
- Group A (25 learners): Hands-on scanning with live models
- Group B1 (13 learners): Case-based learning
- Group B2 (12 learners): Low-fidelity simulator practice using the Surgical Science Simulator Ultrasound Mentor
- At the midpoint of the session, Group B1 and Group B2 swap activities.
5:50–7:10 PM Interactive Breakout Breakout Session 2
- Group B (25 learners): Hands-on scanning with live models
- Group A1 (13 learners): Case-based learning
- Group A2 (12 learners): Low-fidelity simulator practice using the Surgical Science Simulator Ultrasound Mentor
- At the midpoint of the session, Group A1 and Group A2 swap activities.
7:10–7:20 PM Large Group Debrief and Q&A
- Key teaching points
- Common image acquisition and interpretation pitfalls
- Final questions
7:20–7:30 PM Closing Remarks
- Summary of main concepts
- Suggested next steps for continued skill development
Learning Objectives
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
Describe the role of POCUS in the evaluation of neonatal emergencies.
Identify normal lung, focused cardiac, and abdominal ultrasound views used in rapid bedside assessment.
Perform the basic components of a SAFE/crashing infant ultrasound examination.
Recognize high-yield pathologies including pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pericardial effusion, depressed cardiac function, and abdominal free fluid.
Integrate POCUS findings into real-time bedside triage and escalation of care.
Meet the Faculty
Learn from leaders in neonatal, cardiac, and point-of-care ultrasound.
Saul Flores, MD, FACC, FCCM
Texas Children’s Hospital
View Bio
Dr. Saul Flores is an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a cardiologist and cardiac intensivist at Texas Children’s Hospital. An international leader in pediatric cardiac intensive care, his widely published multicenter research drives clinical innovation.
His work integrates advanced hemodynamics, physiological data analysis, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to optimize outcomes in children with congenital heart disease. He is also the Past Chair of the Pediatric and Neonatal Ultrasound Committee for the SCCM.
Maria V. Fraga, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
View Bio
Dr. María Victoria Fraga is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an attending neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
An international leader in neonatal-perinatal medicine, her work integrates advanced hemodynamics, targeted lung ultrasound, and point-of-care ultrasound to optimize outcomes in critically ill infants. She is the founder of CHOP’s Neonatal POCUS Program and the National Neonatal POCUS Collaborative.
Shazia Bhombal, MD
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
View Bio
Dr. Shazia Bhombal is Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. She is dually trained in pediatric cardiology and neonatology and is Director of NICU Cardiac Care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Arthur M. Blank Hospital.
Her academic and clinical work focuses on neonatal hemodynamics and chronic lung disease. Dr. Bhombal serves as Director of Emory’s Neonatal Point-of-Care Ultrasound program, where she advances clinical training and research.
Gabriel Altit, MD
Montreal Children’s Hospital
View Bio
Dr. Gabriel Altit is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at McGill University and an attending neonatologist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
He is the founder and principal investigator of the NeoCardioLab at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and a leading expert in targeted neonatal echocardiography and cardiovascular physiology. His research focuses on advanced imaging, neonatal POCUS, and global hemodynamics education.
Erik R. Su, MD
Texas Children’s Hospital
View Bio
Dr. Erik R. Su is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a cardiac intensivist at Texas Children’s Hospital. He specializes in pediatric and adult congenital cardiac critical care, with advanced expertise in neurocritical care and resuscitation.
A leader in critical care imaging, Dr. Su is the Past Co-Chair of the AAP’s Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Pediatrics and a founding contributor to PeRCCUS. He directs domestic and international educational programs and serves on multiple prominent editorial boards.
How to Register
The POCUS Course is added separately during the PCICS registration process.
Add POCUS to Your Registration
Registration for the POCUS Course is completed through the PCICS registration system.
- Begin or update your NeoHeart/PCICS registration.
- Scroll to the Additional Items section.
- Select the following workshop:
Space is extremely limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Build Your POCUS Skills in New Orleans
Join us for a focused, hands-on pre-conference workshop designed to support practical point-of-care ultrasound learning in neonatal cardiac care.
Register for the POCUS Course