Master of Clinical Ultrasound

This subject will outline a physics related to medical ultrasound use; an introduction to transthoracic echocardiography using the focused assessment technique HEARTscan (Haemodyanmic Echocardiography Assessment in Real Time).

Topics include:

• The role of Echocardiography in Perioperative and Critical Care Medicine
• Optimising Ultrasound Images (Knobology)
• Physics/Modes of Ultrasound/Transducers
• Anatomy of the Heart
• Anatomy of the Valves
• Comprehensive Transthoracic Echocardiography Examination
• Basic Haemodynamic State Assessment
• HEARTscan Valves
• HEARTscan Case Studies
• Comprehensive Transoesophageal Echocardiography Examination Artefacts

This subject will outline the technique of using ultrasound to guide percutaneous procedures. Procedures will include vessel access, nerve blocks, and trauma related procedures. There will be an elective of either "Nerve Blocks" or "Critical Care Procedures".

Topics include:

• Ultrasound Guided Vascular Access
• Nerve Blocks-Upper Limb
• Nerve Locks-Lower Limb
• Nerve Blocks-Peripheral Nerves
• Nerve Blocks-Abdominal and Thoracic
• Focused Abdominal Scan in Trauma
• Additional Ultrasound in Trauma
• Assessment of Flow and Stenosis in Vessels
• Critical Care Procedures

This subject will introduce Doppler echocardiography to complement basic transthoracic echocardiography imaging.

Topics include:

• Principles of Blood flow
• Principles of Doppler, and Optimising Image
• Basic Doppler Measurement Technique
• Colour Flow Doppler
• Doppler Assessment of Systolic Function
• Using Doppler to Help Grade Valve Lesions
• HEARTscan Studies with Doppler Measurements

This subject will expand the knowledge of transthoracic echocardiography by learning pathophysiology and assessment of ventricular function, including in diastolic function.

Topics include:

• The Cardiac Cycle
• Left Ventricular Systolic Function Pathophysiology
• Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function
• Right Ventricular Systolic Function
• Right Ventricular Function Evaluation
• Atrial Function and Pressure Estimation
• Diastolic Function Pathophysiology
• Assessment of Diastolic Function
• Management of Diastolic Function
• HEARTscan Studies

This subject will provide additional advanced material on anatomy and doppler analysis, which would not have been covered at the certificate level.

Topics include:

• Role of Echocardiography in Perioperative and Critical Care Environments
• Safety of Ultrasound and TOE
• Cleaning and Disinfection of Ultrasound Probes
• Anatomy-Coronary Vessels
• Additional TOE Views and anatomical Variants
• Anatomy-Other Structures
• Estimation of Intraventricular and PA Pressures
• Normal Doppler Values
• Calculations Workshop
• Principles of PISA
• Paediatric and Obstetric Conditions

This subject will provide advanced knowledge called valvular and aortic pathology and echocardiography assessment

Topics include:

• Mitral Regurgitation
• Perioperative Assessment of Mitral Valve Regurgitation
• Mitral stenosis
• Aortic Stenosis
• Aortic Regurgitation
• The Tricuspid Valve
• Aortic Disease
• Prosthetic Valve Assessment
• The Pulmonary Valve and Miscellaneous Conditions
• Miscellaneous Congenital Cardiac Disorders

This subject will identify the role of ultrasound and specific clinical situations relevant to perioperative and critical care practice.

Topics include:

• Clinical Applications- Persistent Hypotension
• clinical applications-Acute Pulmonary Oedema
• High-Speed Deceleration Injury
• Unexplained Sepsis
• Stroke
• Echocardiography for Cardiac Transplant Surgery
• pericardial Tamponade
• Epiaortic Echocardiography

This subject will outline how formally report diagnostic echocardiography studies, using a custom designed database reporting system. There will be 50 case studies to be reported.

Topics include:

• Principles of Echocardiography Reporting
• Use of Echocardiography Report Database
• Reporting Case Studies-50 Cases

This will provide advanced knowledge for the performance and interpretation of 3-Dimensional echocardiography, as well as introducing new technologies and novel applications of clinical ultrasound.

Topics include:

• Transducer design and method of 3-D reconstruction
• How to perform 3-D transthoracic examination
• How to perform 3-D transoesophageal examination
• Understanding cropping and manipulation of recorded images
• Reporting 3-D examinations

This subject will provide advanced knowledge for echocardiography interpretation in patients with adult congenital, obstetric, and unusual medical conditions.

Topics include:

• Transthoracic echocardiography in children
• Atrial defects
• Ventricular defects
• Valvular defects
• Defects of the great vessels
• Congenital defects that present in adults
• Assessment of congenital defects after surgery
• Case reports - 25 cases

Students are required to complete 50 clinical ultrasound cases in the workplace, and submit a logbook of cases. In addition, 50 advanced clinical ultrasound cases will be provided for interpretation and reporting to provide a range of rare cases that are unlikely to be encountered in normal daily practice.

This subject will work through research methods applicable to understanding echocardiography and clinical ultrasound literature. Learning will be reinforced by completing a series of assignments focused on evaluating echocardiography and clinical ultrasound publications.