This past week, several of the Auckland HEMS team travelled across the Tasman to attend the first conference on social media & critical care (SMACC)

Our fearless leader Dr. Chris Denny entered us into the ultrasound competition (SonoWars) on day 2 of the conference. Following a qualifying round of 8-10 teams, the two finalists were chosen for a 2 hour ultrasound competition in front of the entire conference. The 2 teams competed in what can only be described as madness/awesome all rolled into one.

We entered the competition not thinking that we would have much chance advancing beyond the first round but thought the process would be fun regardless.  Somehow, despite our efforts, we managed to make our way to the finals of the competition. Our team comprised of our Auckland HEMS personnel included Scott Orman, Chris Denny & me (Andrew Petrosoniak). We also had participation from Rossi Holloway.

The SonoWars competition involved a combination of skills including speed tests performing ultrasound, image review, teaching an ultrasound technique and finally performing procedural skills.

Each team was given an ultrasound topic that we had to teach to the audience. We were graded on teaching styles, content and ability to captivate the audience. Our competitors were assigned to teach ocular ultrasound while our job was to teach transvaginal ultrasound. In our unbiased opinion, we had the harder job! Transvaginal ultrasound is not a skill we use in pre-hospital ultrasound which instead focuses on abdominal, cardiac and lung imaging. Though we were up to the challenge and set forth with our plan!

Pictures can often tell a better story than words so below is a sequence of photos from the event with some commentary.

First, both teams received a 30min pre-briefing for the event. Shown here is the coordinator demonstrating ocular ultrasound using oversized teaching tools!

Our team was introduced to the teaching props we were required to use. The red figure represents a uterus with yellow ovaries while the ultrasound probe is in the foreground. We were required to incorporate these into our teaching session.

A view from the back of the auditorium as the audience was introduced to Sonowars for the first time!

The ref with the flag in the air as I completed a lung exam. Once the red flag dropped I could move on to a different view

Going into the teaching event we were in the lead.

Our team teaching the skill of transvaginal ultrasound on stage. A challenging topic. The screen in the background has ultrasound images which correspond to what we’re teaching on stage

We gave up a few points in the teaching event but still had a 2 point lead in the final event. It was a procedural skills race that required ultrasound use to perform several procedures directly competing against the other team. Unfortunately we were so focused on the event that we didn’t take pictures and sadly we gave up 3 points and lost to our deserving opponents.

Immediately after we came 2nd…my disappointment in the refs was captured! All in good fun.

A team pic after the event. A great experience!

Overall, this was a great event with lots of learning, fun and ingenuity. The organizers should be proud as they set a standard for combining entertainment with education. It was extremely well organized which allowed it to go smoothly. We’ll be looking forward to redeeming ourselves next year at SMACC!