This advanced course is designed to provide the clinician and advanced sonographer with an update on thoracic, stress, and transesophageal echocardiography as well as cardiac CT and MRI. This is not a "how-to" course, but instead will concentrate on the application of these modalities to clinical decision making.
The program consists primarily of clinical cases which illustrate the problems cardiovascular specialists commonly encounter. Multiple choice questions addressing the clinical utility and limitations of echocardiography follow each case. Utilization of cardiac CT and MRI is also incorporated into the cases. In addition, faculty presents “rapid fire” and “unknown” cases.
Special breakout sessions are devoted to the interpretation of Doppler hemodynamics, diastolic function, stress echocardiography, congenital heart disease, interventional, heart failure, CT/MRI, and perioperative echocardiography.
Attendees have the opportunity to share an interesting case with the faculty and audience. If you would like to share an interesting case, please make this available as an MPEG, AVI, or WMV file. The images should be deidentified. Please provide this case to the registration desk at check-in with a small written history of the patient.
This course is designed to encourage maximum audience participation and interaction with the faculty.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Optimize selection of imaging modalities to aid in clinical decision making for evaluation and management of patients with valvular heart disease
Identify normal and abnormal features of patients with prosthetic valves
Identify the pitfalls of interpretation with exercise and dobutamine stress echocardiography
Apply Doppler hemodynamics and strain imaging into clinical decision-making in patients with heart failure symptoms with both normal and abnormal systolic function
Describe a systematic approach to echocardiography for patients with complex congenital heart disease
Recognize the utility of echocardiography in patients with acute ischemic syndromes and other acute illnesses requiring admission to the intensive care unit
Identify common indications and potential pitfalls for intraoperative and interventional transesophageal echocardiography
INTENDED AUDIENCE
The course is intended for physicians and sonographers with an advanced background in echocardiography.