Course timetable

Lectures

Lectures are usually delivered on Thursdays, all day.  Most lectures are delivered in the sub-basement teaching rooms in the commonwealth building.

• Part 1 - Core topics
• Part 2 - Echocardiography
• Part 2 - Vascular Ultrasound 
• Part 2 - Obstetric and Gynaecology Ultrasound

Part 1 - Core topics (top)

• Discuss the scientific  principles of ultrasound wave propagation and interaction with tissue including attenuation, reflection and scattering, non-linear propagation and its use in harmonic imaging
• Understand the construction and operation of multi element array ultrasound transducers
• Discuss the scientific  principles of pulse echo ultrasound and ultrasound image formation including factors that affect frame rate and image resolution
• Discuss the scientific  principles of the Doppler effect and the principles behind continuous wave Doppler, pulsed wave Doppler,  Colour flow imaging and spectral  Doppler display
• Demonstrate the ability to optimise B-mode imaging, colour flow imaging, and spectral Doppler display controls in order to maximise the quality of the ultrasound investigation.
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of haemodynamics both in normal and diseased vessels including the relationship between pressure gradient, flow and resistance to flow, velocity changes through stenosis, velocity profiles and venous flow.
• Understand, recognise and minimise imaging and Doppler artefacts
• Discuss the safe use of ultrasound including knowledge of bioeffects and the purpose of MI/TI.
• Discuss QA of vascular ultrasound equipment and contribute to QA programmes in vascular science
• Demonstrate a scientific understanding of new technologies e.g.  3 and 4D, contrast imaging, elastography
• Recognise the limitations of ultrasound

Part 2 - Echocardiography (top)

• Anatomy and physiology
• Aetiology/pathophysiology cardiac disease 
• Cardiac functional parameters
• Heart valve disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Transoesophageal imaging
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Contrast echocardiography
• Intracardiac masses
• Pericardial disease
• Diseases of the aorta
• Adult congenital heart disease
• Paediatric echocardiography
• Stress echocardiography

Part 2 - Vascular Ultrasound (top)

• Anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology
• Arterial & venous haemodynamics
• Advanced Doppler techniques
• Doppler Signal Quantification
• Cerebrovasculature 
• Peripheral Vasculature
• Peripheral venous/lymphatic system
• Aorta and branches
• Abdominal venous system
• Vascular technology

 

Part 2 - Obstetric and Gynaecology Ultrasound (top)

• Ultrasound in the first trimester
• Fetal measurements
• Routine anomaly scans
• Endovaginal imaging in routine obstetric ultrasound
• Abnormalities of : renal tract; GI tract
• C.N.S abnormalities
• Fetal heart
• Marker of chromosomal abnormalities
• Twins and chorionicity
• Doppler techniques
• Invasive procedures

Laboratory practicals

Laboratory practicals are usually run every day of the week except on Thursdays when you have lectures and start at 09.15 a.m. Because practicals involve patients, you will need to be introduced to the patient by a member of staff and be allocated a specific time for scanning. You will need to be polite and courteous with the patent and assure that they are lying comfortably. You should not exceed 30 minutes of scanning time per patient.

Project dissertations

Allocation of projects and supervisors will be arranged during the period October to December taking into account wherever possible the academic interests of individual students.  Research projects will be available in the laboratories of the Echo, Vascular or Obs and Gynae depts within Imperial College/Hammersmith, Charing Cross Hospital, Queen Charlotte’s or St. Mary’s Hospital.

Overview of elements due

Element	Component	Date due
Lectures	Physics	October - December
Lectures	Specialty	January - March
Project Dissertation	Selection of project	December
Project Dissertation	Project outline (4/5 pages)	December
Project Dissertation	Project essay	January
Project Dissertation	Progress report (4/5 pages)	March
Exams	Mock - Physics	April
Exams	Mock - Speciality	April
Project Dissertation	Progress Presentation	May
Exams	Final - Physics	May
Exams	Final – Speciality	June
Clinical	Clinical examination	July
Project Dissertation	Complete draft project	July
Project Dissertation	Submission of project dissertation	August
Clinical	Submission of patient log book	August
Project Dissertation	Vive Voce	September
Exam Board Meeting	Exam board meeting	September