Postgraduate Certificate in Point of Care Ultrasound for Nephrology
Over 3 semesters, the program covers the Fundamentals of Ultrasound scanning and 5 essential clinical applications encountered in Nephrology including:
- Renal ultrasound
- Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access and Procedural
- Core ECHO and IVC
- Lung Ultrasound
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (including evaluation of AV fistula)
Generic Information
• Limited to 5 candidates per course for effective mentorship
• Blend of online lectures/webinars and in-person practice
• 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.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course the candidate should be able to:
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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