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Syllabus

Course Description

The DVM Imaging Program will be divided into basic, intermediate, and advanced ultrasound techniques. During each weeklong segment the student will spend six 8-hour days at the education facility in lecture and lab. They will then return to their veterinary practice and complete the segment by working on and submitting case presentations that will be evaluated by course instructors. Credit for the course will be given after successful completion of all four segments.

Following successful completion of all four components of this class, students will receive an Advanced Imaging Certificate of Completion.

Course details

This is an in-depth course covering basic through advanced ultrasound of the abdomen and heart. The course specifically covers ultrasound physics, imaging artifacts, equipment, scan planes and imaging protocols for 2-D, M-mode and Doppler imaging, normal and abnormal abdominal and cardiac physiology, and the pathophysiology of common canine and feline diseases.

Course Rationale

Imaging modalities, specifically ultrasound, currently comprise a substantial portion of comparative medicine, laboratory animal medicine, general veterinary practice, and veterinary specialty practice. There is a need for well-educated and competent sonographers trained in advanced ultrasound that can contribute to the practice of better medicine.

Course Objectives

This course is comprised of 4 weeks of onsite training spread out over a year’s time, taking the student from a Basic to an Advanced Imaging level in both abdomen and cardiac ultrasound. Anatomy, physics, principals, image acquisition and protocols, knobology, normals, abnormals, etc…are all addressed. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion in Advanced Imaging…this is not an accreditation. You will have multiple written tests, and a practicum each week, as well as a large number of homework cases to do between weeks. Read further details on our website, www.soundeklin.com under the Education tab.

Skills and Competencies to be Developed or Practiced (all are essential)

Office and Hospital Procedures and Client Relations

  1. Inform clients of animal preparation for advanced imaging exams i.e., NPO, permission to shave, sedation if required, etc...
  2. Combine lab reports, x-ray results, history and physical exam information with the ultrasound information to come to an accurate interpretation of the animal’s health issues.
  3. Establish or use current clinic protocol for reading and storage of images.

Communication

  • Develop effective communication skills regarding the ultrasound interpretation.

Week 1

  1. Identify and know proper use of ultrasound probes.
  2. Sterilize and clean equipment using appropriate methods.
  3. Set up equipment for an exam.
  4. Prepare an animal for imaging exams.
  5. Position patients.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of ultrasound machine knobology.
  7. Learn and practice techniques for an abdominal ultrasound study.
  8. Recognize normal ultrasound anatomy in the abdomen.
  9. Understand basic abdominal organ physiology.
  10. Become familiar with the pathophysiology of common abdominal organ diseases in the dog and cat.
  11. Use proper labeling and measuring techniques.
  12. Demonstrate computer skills needed to have cases evaluated between teaching weeks.

Week 2

  1. Learn normal cardiac physiology and anatomy.
  2. Learn and recognize anatomy from the right and left parasternal two-dimensional echocardiographic views of the heart.
  3. Knobology:  Demonstrate setup of equipment and how to “tweak” an image.
  4. Learn pathophysiology and echocardiographic features of common acquired heart diseases in the dog and cat.
    • Canine – DCM, CVD, masses, pericardial effusion, pulmonary hypertension
    • Feline – The cardiomyopathies
  5. Learn and practice right and left-sided views of the heart.
  6. Learn M-mode and practice image acquisition and measurement and interpretation.
  7. Learn and practice techniques for the complete abdominal and 2-D/M-mode cardiac exam.
  8. Create reports for exams.

Week 3

  1. Knobology:  Demonstrate how to “tweak” an image.
  2. Learn the pathophysiology of selected abdominal organ diseases in the dog and cat.
  3. Learn cardiac and abdominal Doppler and practice image acquisition and measurement.
  4. Learn and practice techniques for the complete abdominal and 2-D/M-mode/Doppler cardiac exam.
  5. Understand Doppler findings found in common acquired cardiac diseases in the dog and cat.
  6. Identify normal vs. abnormal ultrasonographic appearance of abdominal organs and the heart.
  7. Apply scanning principles learned to case study presentations.

Week 4

  1. Learn pathophysiology and echocardiographic features of common congenital heart diseases in the dog and cat.
  2. Understand Doppler findings found in common congenital cardiac diseases in the dog and cat.
  3. Perform a complete abdominal and cardiac ultrasound study.
  4. Apply scanning principles learned to case study presentations.
  5. Identify small parts and noncardiac thoracic ultrasound anatomy.
  6. Perform small parts and noncardiac thoracic ultrasound exams.