Post Graduate Certificate Courses

• Appreciate the fundamental physics principles relating to ultrasound including the piezoelectric effect, acoustic impedance mismatch, angle of incidence and other factors that influence imaging as well as the recognition and differentiation of various artefacts
• Recognise the importance of frequency and the way it impacts probe selection and imaging
• Utilise the various functions on US machines to optimise the scan and obtain measurements of relevant structures
• Hold and manipulate the probe effectively being mindful of ergonomics
• Identify the various artefacts. Be familiar with techniques to utillise friendly artefacts and eliminating or reducing unfriendly artefacts.
• Annotate and acquire representative images
• Be mindful of probe and machine cleaning and sterility
• Utilise key scanning concepts including perpendicularity, foreshortening, single component movement
• Issuing a formal report using the correct terminology
• Be aware of the role of Artificial Intelligence in POCUS

• Appreciate the risk factors, pathophysiology and epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysms and aneurysmal rupture
• Understand the anatomy of the abdominal aorta, the principal branches and the peri-aortic structures
• Appreciate the evidence based strengths and limitations of Ultrasound in scanning for AAA and rupture
• Be familiar with the current guidelines for management of AAA
• Confidently identify the abdominal aorta, IVC and vertebral body
• Evaluate the abdominal aorta in both transverse (TS) and longitudinal planes (LS)
• Measure the abdominal aorta correctly in both TS and LS
• Identify the main branches of the abdominal aorta
• Identify the upper abdominal peri-aortic anatomy including the liver, pancreas, portal vein
• Use alternative approaches when scanning the challenging patient
• Integrate ultrasound into the management pathway for AAA including rupture
• Issue a report using the correct terminology

• Recognise the sonoanatomy of the hepatobiliary system including the liver, gallbladder, biliary ducts and pancreas. Understand how different approaches and patient positions may optimise the views
• Use a structured approach to interrogate the various hepatobiliary structures including the liver, gallbladder, common duct and pancreas
• Diagnose hepatic pathology including lesions, cysts and cirrhosis
• Recognise dilated intra and extra hepatic bile ducts
• Identify and measure the Common Bile Duct
• Evaluate the gallbladder for pathology including calculi, acute and chronic cholecystitis and polyps
• Evaluate the pancreas for lesions or cysts
• Identify and measure the pancreatic duct
• Recognise the limitations of the scan and know when to refer for further imaging.
• Issue a report with 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
• Appreciate bladder wall thickness and calculate bladder volume
• Identify diverticula, evaluate bladder lesions and distinguish them from haematuria or clots.
• Recognise the limitations of the scan and when to refer for further imaging.
• Issue a report using the correct terminology

• 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 axis (PLAX) and short axis (PSAX) and subcostal 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
• Correctly measure the aortic root, LA and LV in PLAX
• Identify a dilated aortic root LA and dilated cardiomyopathy
• Understand the clinical signficance of the findings
• 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

• Define the lower limb venous anatomy
• Differentiate veins from arteries
• Recognise thrombus within the deep veins of the lower limb
• Appreciate the sonographic features of acute, subacute and chronic thrombus
• Perform a compression ultrasound scan of the lower limb to identify deep venous thrombosis in the proximal deep veins
• 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
• Recognise alternative pathologies presenting with LL pain including superficial thrombophlebitis, Baker’s cyst and muscular hematomas
• Issue a report using the correct terminology

• Appreciate the normal sonoanatomy of muscle and soft tissues
• Differentiate between cellulitis and abscess
• Assess lymph nodes for benign vs pathological features
• Identify the sonographic characteristics of lipomas
• Identify foreign bodies in soft tissue
• Recognise the appearance of pathologies including fractures, contusions and hematomas
• Issue a report using the correct terminology