Session 1: Basics of Echocardiography: Review for Boards (Free)

Session 1: Basics of Echocardiography: Review for Boards

This session in our series "The 8th Annual Sights & Sounds of Echocardiography" will cover the following objectives:

1. Left Ventricular Systolic Function
2. Right Ventricle
3. Comprehensive Hemodynamics by Doppler Echocardiography
4. Diastolic Function
5. Stress Echocardiography: Theory and Practice
6. Myocardial Mechanics

Course Information

The integration of echocardiography into clinical decision making makes it important for physicians and monographers to maintain skills and demonstrate competencies. Recent advances in the field of have created new gaps in physician knowledge, especially in relation to new techniques and guidelines for implementation. The 8th Annual Sights and Sounds of Echocardiology addresses these gaps by providing information on new technologies and addressing the usefulness of various echocardiographic techniques. Specifically, this enduring material focuses upon topics such as quantitative Doppler hemodynamics, structural heart disease, transesophageal echo, diastology and myoperscardial disease. Furthermore, appropriate use of echo cardiology will be discussed as case studies are presented.

The main goal of the activity is to present information that focuses on integrated multidisciplinary care as an effective medical approach to providing the highest quality care to the patient. Echocardiographic applications towards the most recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of CV disease are presented from both physician and sonographer perspective. Separate sonographer sessions also offer specific guidance to that portion of the audience.

Intended Audience:

This enduring materials has been designed for adult and pediatric cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, monographers and fellows in training, and technologists. Participants should have practical knowledge of echocardiography.

Educational Objectives:

Following this continuing medial education activity, the participant should be able to:

1. Incorporate 2D/3D echocardiography/Doppler information in clinical decision-making, thereby transforming information to knowledge
2. Apply state-of-the-art practice of obtaining myocardial mechanics information
3. Quantitatively assess Doppler and color flow imaging
4. Assess LV function qualitatively (volumes, mass, and EF)
5. Recognize the usefulness of Doppler for assessing hemodynamics and diastolic function
6. Describe the value and limitation of contrast echocardiography
7. Summarize the technology, indications, and clinical use of TEE
8. Identify roles of cardiovascular ultrasound for structural heart disease
9. Apply ASE/ACC/AHA guidelines for valvular heart disease
10. Apply knowledge of 3D echocardiography into clinical practice
11. Apply for IAC laboratory accreditation of the laboratory.