Vascular Ultrasound Case Studies Review

Description / Purpose

The Vascular Case Studies Review program has been designed with the interpreting physician in mind. Its main focus is to expose participants to a wide variety of cases in order to gain certainty in diagnosis/interpretation of vascular pathologies. Participants will also become intimately familiar on how to structure/format the case reports. Our expert faculty will present the cases in an interactive “double read” format. Using the Audience Response System (ARS), participants will answer questions pertaining for each of the cases. The correct diagnosis for each case will be selected after stepping through the choices. The case load will help if preparing to take RPVI exam. The “double read” sessions/exam log will help with reading privileges for credentialing purposes and to meet ICAVL lab accreditation requirements.

Case Discussions / Reports

There will be limited didactic presentations, as this is primarily a case studies based program. Discussions will take place at the end of the case presentation to review the final report and any correlative imaging procedures that were used for QA or to verify the findings for that specific case.

Number of Cases / Exam Log Provided

Approximately 90 cases will be reviewed. St. Pete Beach participants will be given a log of cases read along with their corresponding reports.

Course Objectives:

At the completion of this program, the participant should be able to:

1. Explain routine scan protocols & analyze normal spectral waveform signatures, color characteristics, and Doppler measurements in a normal carotid and peripheral vascular examinations.
2. Recognize abnormal spectral Doppler and Color Doppler findings seen with carotid and peripheral arterial & venous disease.
3. Apply diagnostic criteria for evaluation of carotid, peripheral venous and arterial disease.
4. Interpret routine and complex carotid and peripheral vascular case studies in an interactive “double-read” format.
5. Discuss the role of ultrasound during and post-intervention for peripheral venous and arterial disease.
6. Articulate the key elements to include in a structured final report.
7. Increase knowledge and confidence to interpret vascular ultrasound examinations.

• Overview stenosis assessment (SRU criteria for ICA stenosis, plaque morphology and waveform analysis and options for CCA, ECA, subclavian and vertebral disease)
• Structured report (review what to include in a structured report and correlation with other modalities and/or outcomes for QA process)
• Carotid case studies (ARS)
• Indirect testing and duplex overview
• PV arterial case studies, combination of indirect and duplex cases (ARS)
• Post-intervention case review
• Venous duplex overview
• Venous case studies (ARS)
• Miscellaneous case studies (ARS)
• Abdominal and other vascular related pathology