This 3-day Vascular Ultrasound course is designed for sonographers, echocardiographers, interventional technologists and physicians seeking intensive training on the essential aspects of vascular ultrasound. This course provides an opportunity to complement the professional’s existing skills with non-invasive vascular examination techniques. The course begins with a review of the basic ultrasound physics and instrumentation gray scale and Doppler principles, and fluid dynamics. Additional discussions include methods for optimizing the quality of diagnostic data obtained during an ultrasound examination. Specific applications are then addressed beginning with a review of the relevant anatomy and physiology followed by in-depth presentations on examination techniques, protocols and diagnostic criteria. The specific applications that will be addressed include: extra-cranial and intracranial cerebrovascular, abdominal and retroperitoneal (including large vessels as well as organs), and peripheral arterial and venous imaging and non-imaging assessments.
The didactic course work for each application will be complemented by supervised scanning sessions conducted in small groups using live models and experienced instructors on a variety of ultrasound systems. Additional topics covered in the course will include recent advances in technology, practice issues as well as quality assurance measures. This course is appropriate for preparing for the vascular ultrasound credentialing examination (RVT or RVS). Ample time will be provided each day for interactive discussions and questions.
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:
Describe how gray scale ultrasound, color flow imaging and spectral Doppler are used in the evaluation of the vascular system.
Describe the essential components of a routine examination protocol of the cerbrovascular, peripheral arterial, peripheral venous, and abdominal vessels.
Identify the normal and abnormal ultrasound characteristics of the peripheral vascular system.
List the characteristics of normal and abnormal peripheral arterial and venous Doppler flow signals.
Describe the ultrasound findings of basic pathologic conditions of the arterial and venous systems.
