Transthoracic Echocardiography Course (ECHO)

Description (Practical Course): This workshop is an one morning symposium directed to anesthesiologists, emergency medicine physicians, surgeons, intensivists, and nurse practitioners interested in further training in echocardiogram. The course offers the opportunity to learn and perform some of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic tools to optimize the management of critically ill and injured patients.

The seminar will be divided in two parts:

1. The first part will be the didactic. This consists of two hours of lectures about the physiology of ultrasound, echocardiographic views and measurements.
   
2. The second part will be the hands-on session. Ideally there will be a maximum of six students per ultrasound instructor. We will need the Phased Array probe. The hands-on part will be performed on human volunteers, in whom different views of the heart will be obtained.
   

General Objective: Teach the technique of echocardiogram for the evaluation of fluid status, and cardiac function of critically ill patients.

Specific Objectives:

1. Discuss the basic principles of ultrasound physics, instrumentation, and image acquisition,
2. Discuss the basic principles of transthoracic echocardiography, instrumentation, standard views, image acquisition, and cardiac measurements,
3. Describe and perform a practical approach to echocardiographic evaluation of shock and cardiac dysfunction.

Target Audience (who should attend): Trauma Surgeons, General Surgeons, Emergency Physicians, Intensivists, Anesthesiologists, EMS Providers, Residents & Students.

Course Agenda:

TIME:   ACTIVITY:                                                                                                                                    08:00 - 08:30 am     Registration & pretest

08:30 - 09:15  Introduction

09:15 - 10:00                 Lung windows

10:00 - 10:15  Break

10:15 - 11:00  Views of echo-evaluation of vena cava

11:00 - 11:30   Case with images

11:30 - 1:30 pm          Hands-on stations

1:30pm - 2:00pm   Post-test & certification

Manual available in the following languages: English & Spanish, and will be provided to participants onsite.

Pre-Test & Post-Test: Onsite Administration

Evaluation Form: Onsite Administration

Certificate: Onsite Administration (if paid pre-course) or E-mail Administration (if paid post-course).

Course Duration: 1/2 day

Course Director & Faculty:

Paula Ferrada, MD                                                                                                                                paula.ferrada@vcuhealth.org                                                                                                                                              Phone: 804.316.6822

Local Coordinator: Each course will be assigned a coordinator. The course coordinator can be local or international.

Number of Participants: Ratio of instructors to students 1:6