Over 3 semesters, the program covers the Fundamentals of Ultrasound scanning and 5 essential clinical applications encountered in Nephrology including:
Post Graduate Certificate
Postgraduate Certificate in Point of Care Ultrasound for Nephrology
- Renal ultrasound
- Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access and Procedural
- Core ECHO and IVC
- Lung Ultrasound
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (including evaluation of AV fistula)
Key Information
Duration:
12 Months
Starting:
January
Venue:
The Notch Conference Center, Kappara
Price:
€2875
Apply
Course Information
- Limited to 5 candidates per course for effective mentorship
- Blend of online lectures/webinars and in-person
- Segmented online lectures aid self-paced learning
- Online portal for resources, mentor interaction, and submissions
- Each candidate is assigned an experienced mentor for year-long guidance
- Facilitation of access to practice machines
- 7-9 in-person intensive practice days per course
- Mandatory practice logbook with scans and pathologies
- Final exam with practical and theoretical elements for course completion.
Clinical Applications
US Fundamentals
- Appreciate the anatomy and normal sonoanatomy of the renal system including the kidneys, ureters and bladder
- Appreciate and Identify normal anatomical variants which may be mistaken for pathology
- Use a structured approach to evaluate the kidneys and bladder
- Identify perinephric collections
- Identify renal calculi
- Diagnose and grade hydronephrosis
- Evaluate renal cysts and cystic disease
- Evaluate renal solid lesions
- Measure bladder wall thickness, bladder and prostate volume
- Identify diverticula, evaluate bladder lesions and distinguish them from haematuria or clots.
- Confirm urinary catheter placement
- Recognise the limitations of the scan and when to refer for further imaging.
- Issue a report using the correct terminology
Renal
- Appreciate the anatomy and normal sonoanatomy of the renal system including the kidneys, ureters and bladder
- Appreciate and Identify normal anatomical variants which may be mistaken for pathology
- Use a structured approach to evaluate the kidneys and bladder
- Identify perinephric collections
- Identify renal calculi
- Diagnose and grade hydronephrosis
- Evaluate renal cysts and cystic disease
- Evaluate renal solid lesions
- Measure bladder wall thickness, bladder and prostate volume
- Identify diverticula, evaluate bladder lesions and distinguish them from haematuria or clots
- Confirm urinary catheter placement
- Recognise the limitations of the scan and when to refer for further imaging
- Issue a report using the correct terminology
Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access and Procedural
- Recognize the evidence base underpinning the use of US in peripheral venous access
- Understand the necessity of infection control measures and sterility
- Differentiate veins, arteries, nerves, muscles and tendons
- Evaluate the venous anatomy of the upper limb veins in a systematic way using ultrasound
- Assess peripheral vein suitability using the WASPS approach
- Optimising probe/vein alignment for access
- Utilise in-plane and out-of-plane approaches for guided vascular access and interventions
- Use ultrasound to confirm successful cannulation
Core ECHO and IVC
- Recognise the value of the various cardiac views in evaluating different cardiac structures
- Define the sonoanatomy and recognise the cardiac structures in all cardiac views
- Understand the changes in the cardiac chambers and valves during the cardiac cycle
- Define the normal upper limits for diameters and ratio of the cardiac structures
- Understand the clinical significance and relevance of dilated structures
- Define the normal ECHO parameters for LV contractility
- Acquire the parasternal long and short axis, subcostal and apical views of the heart
- Utilise a stepwise approach to optimise the various cardiac views and recognise the impact of specific movements on the cardiac appearance
- Adopt the DEFG structured diagnostic approach for ECHO evaluation
- Diagnose dilated aortic root in dissection, dilated LA and dilated cardiomyopathy
- Evaluate the systolic function/contractility to diagnose heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- Identify pericardial effusions and recognise tamponade physiology
- Evidence base for IVC scanning
- Understand the impact of respiratory physiology on the IVC
- Identify and correctly measure the IVC
- Define the maximal diameter and collapsibility index of the IVC in normovolemia and hypovolemia in both ventilated and unventilated patients
- Recognise the limitations of IVC scanning and the impact of raised pulmonary pressures on its use
- Issue a report using the correct terminology
Lung Ultrasound
- Appreciate the evidence base for lung ultrasound
- Understand the anatomy and sonoanatomy of the pleaura and lung
- Appreciate the surface landmarks delineating the 12 lung zones and the corresponding pulmonary anatomy
- Use a step wise structured approach for the evaluation of each lung zone
- Recognise the sonographic appearances of various pathologies including pneumothorax, pleural effusion, pulmonary oedema, consolidation, fibrosis, contusion, pneumonitis and ARDS
- Integrate the findings with the clinical context to assist diagnosis
- Issue a report using the correct terminology
Deep Vein Thrombosis (including evaluation of AV fistula)
- Define the and upper limb and lower limb venous anatomy
- Differentiate veins from arteries
- Recognise thrombus within the superficial and deep veins of upper and lower limbs including AV fistulae
- Appreciate the sonographic features of acute, subacute and chronic thrombus
- Understand how to integrate US scanning in the clinical algorithm for DVT
- Appreciate the limitations of US scanning for DVT and when to refer to radiology
- Perform an ultrasound scan of the lower limb to identify deep venous thrombosis in the proximal deep veins
- Recognise alternative pathologies presenting with LL pain including superficial thrombophlebitis, Baker’s cyst and muscular hematomas
- Issue a report using the correct terminology
Course Schedule
No upcoming courses are scheduled at the moment.
If you are interested in future courses, please fill in the Interest Form, and we will contact you when a course becomes available.
