So, how do we distinguish a vein from an artery during ultrasound? This is crucial—because, of course, we do not want to puncture an artery. Generally: Veins appear oval on ultrasound and are usually compressible. Arteries are more round and non-compressible, maintaining their shape under pressure. I am Willem Stockman from Belgium and today, I had the opportunity to give two talks: One on ultrasound-guided vascular access, and Another on transcranial Doppler (TCD)—a technique for assessing cerebral blood flow in critically ill patients. My hope in delivering these talks is that clinicians who hear us speak about ultrasound will go back to their hospitals and start practicing it regularly. Especially with vascular access, ultrasound guidance can significantly improve patient safety by reducing complications during catheter placement. When it comes to lung ultrasound, for a comprehensive exam—especially in complex settings like transplant patients—you'll typically need two types of probes: a linear and a convex. As for transcranial Doppler, that's a bit more advanced. It's technically challenging, but incredibly valuable. I hope I was able to spark some interest among attendees—if even a few go back and implement TCD in their practice, that would be a meaningful step forward. During the hands-on part, we scan extensively—recognizing structures like the ribs, pleural line, and identifying artifacts. You move the probe systematically: rib, rib, rib… scar… rib… scar—training your eye to catch subtle changes. Of course, a course like this is meant as an introduction. After the lectures, participants practice on models, which are healthy and won't present pathology—but they're an excellent way to start building confidence with the ultrasound machine. It's the first step toward clinical mastery.

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