Echocardiography Cardiac Doppler Ultrasound

Echocardiography has come a long way from its humble beginnings. The addition of M-Mode, two dimensional real time imaging, Doppler, color flow, and now three and four dimensional imaging have all changed the way echocardiography is practiced. Diastolic assessment and changes in nomenclature have even changed the language of Echo. This eight day course covers echo from M-mode to 3-D. After completion you will be confident in choosing the proper tools to assess common pathological conditions such as valvular abnormalities, systolic, and diastolic function. Development of a consistent protocol is mandatory to avoid missing pathology and our scan lab with state of the art equipment and low student instructor ratios will give you the time and opportunity to practice, practice, practice.

Objectives
At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Explain normal cardiovascular anatomy and physiology and relate cardiovascular functions to disease.
• Discuss cardiac mechanical and electrical physiology and relate this information from the echocardiogram to the basic electrocardiogram.
• Operate several ultrasound units for the production of 2-D, M-Mode and Doppler echocardiograms.
• Perform an echocardiogram using the protocol defined by the American Society of Echocardiography, i.e. parasternal long and short, apical 2, 4, 5, and long, and subcostal long and short axis.
• Quantitatively analyze the results of 2-D and M-Mode echocardiogram.
• Analyze the results of an echocardiogram for normal versus abnormal findings.
• Analyze echocardiograms for common cardiac pathologies.
• Identify and resolve basic technique and equipment problems that interfere with the quality of studies.
• Define the clinical responsibilities of an echocardiographer who is confronted with significant clinical findings.
• Conduct a basic patient history and assessment that relates to interpretation of echocardiographic findings.
• Operate several cardiac ultrasound instruments and apply various types of cardiac Doppler; pulse wave, continuous wave and color flow mapping. * Describe the normal cardiovascular blood flow through the heart and the great vessels as defined by Doppler velocity measurements and profiles.
• Quantify Doppler findings in echocardiography.
• Analyze common cardiac Doppler findings for common cardiac pathologies.
• Identify the diseases or cardiac pathologies that require definition by Doppler examination.

Course Topics

• Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation
• Cardiovascular Anatomy and Physiology and EKG
• Equipment Orientation
• Anatomy and Physiology and Cardiac Catheterization
• 2-D Imaging
• M-Mode
• Acquired Heart Disease
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Doppler Instrumentation and Controls
• Doppler Normals
• Cardiac Quantification
• Cardiac Doppler in Disease
• Special Procedures
• Contrast Echocardiography