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
Register Here
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
