Endorsed Course: POCUS in Surgery

Course title: POCUS in Surgery
Organising societies: SECHO (Serbian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology), in collaboration with SSES (Serbian Association for Emergency Surgery).
Course Director: Dr Dragan Vasin, President of SECHO, University Clinical Centre of Serbia.
Date: 25–26 November 2026
Venue: University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Expected number of participants: 24
Course language: Serbian
Target educational level: Advanced
Contact emails: secho.society@gmail.com; office@secho.org; jovanastoji@gmail.com

Course Description

The course aims to strengthen participants’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as applied to surgical practice. It will combine lectures with supervised hands-on workshops using models and phantoms. The programme will cover ultrasound physics and image optimisation, eFAST in trauma, acute abdominal conditions, aortic and vascular emergencies, the RUSH approach to shock, lung ultrasound in critically ill surgical patients, and selected ultrasound-guided procedures.
The proposed educational level is Advanced. The course is planned for 24 participants and will be delivered in Serbian. The organisers will provide course materials and practical teaching in accordance with the final approved programme.
We respectfully request that EFSUMB consider this course for endorsement. The preliminary scientific programme, course syllabus and lecture summaries, and promotional material are included as accompanying documents.

Educational objectives

• Enhance participants’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills in POCUS applied to surgical practice.
• Improve rapid ultrasound assessment of trauma patients and patients with haemodynamic instability or critical illness.
• Improve recognition of acute surgical conditions using ultrasound.
• Develop the ability to integrate ultrasound findings with clinical presentation to support timely clinical decision-making
• Provide supervised practical experience in selected POCUS examinations and ultrasound-guided procedures.

Expected learning outcomes

By the end of the course, participants are expected to be able to:

• Explain the role, capabilities and limitations of POCUS in acute surgical practice.
• Describe and apply the principles of eFAST and RUSH in appropriate clinical or simulated scenarios.
• Recognise common ultrasound findings relevant to trauma, acute abdomen, shock and respiratory compromise.
• Integrate POCUS findings with the clinical presentation and other available investigations.
• Demonstrate basic image optimisation and probe handling during supervised practical sessions.
• Describe the principles of safe ultrasound-guided access and targeted puncture.

Teaching methods and assessment

Teaching methods include lectures, supervised hands-on practical workshops, small-group work, image interpretation and discussion. A final knowledge test and discussion are scheduled at the end of Day 2. Practical sessions will use models and phantoms where appropriate.

Accompanying documents

• Preliminary Scientific Programme.
• Course Syllabus and Lecture Summaries.
• Promotional Material.