Post Graduate Certificate Courses

•  Appreciate the fundamental physics principles relating to ultrasound including the piezoelectric effect, the 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 machine settings
•  Understand and utilise the proper terms to annotate images and report scans
•  Utilise the various functions on US machines to optimise the scan
•  Hold and manipulate the probe effectively being mindful of ergonomics

•  Appreciate the anatomy and sonoanatomy of 4 anatomical spaces which will be interrogated for free fluid including the right and left pleural spaces, peritoneum and pericardium. Identify the presence of free fluid in these spaces
•  Appreciate the anatomy and sonoanatomy of the pleura. Understand the rationale for lung sliding and the other pleural artefacts. Identify the lung point and its value in sizing a pneumothorax
•  Understand the indications, sensitivity and limitations of eFAST scanning. Recognise when to refer for further imaging
•  Evaluate the right and left pleural space, peritoneum and pericardium for the presence of free fluid
•  Evaluate the pleura to identify a pneumothorax
•  Issue a report

•  Pathophysiology, epidemiology and anatomy of the abdominal aorta and its branches
•  Identify the abdominal aorta, IVC and vertebral body
•  Identify the upper abdominal peri-aortic anatomy including the liver, pancreas, portal vein
•  Understand the strengths and limitations of Ultrasound in scanning for AAA
•  Integrate ultrasound into the management pathway for AAA
•  Evaluate the abdominal aorta in both transverse (TS) and longitudinal planes (LS)
•  Identify the main branches
•  Measure the abdominal aorta correctly in both TS and LS
•  How to scan the difficult patient
•  Issue a report

•  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
•  Understand and identify the pathologies that affect these structures
•  Recognise the limitations of the scan and know when to refer for further imaging.
•  Evaluate the liver for pathology
•  Diagnose hepatic pathology including lesions, cysts and cirrhosis
•  Recognise dilated intra and extra hepatic bile ducts
•  Identify and measure the Common Bile Duct
•  Recognise gallbladder pathology including calculi, acute and chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder polyps
•  Identify and measure the pancreatic duct
•  Diagnose pancreatic lesions
•  Issue a report

•  Appreciate the anatomy and normal sonoanatomy of the renal system including the kidneys, ureters and bladder
•  Appreciate and Identify normal anatomical variants
•  Use a structured approach to diagnose the more common pathology
•  Recognise the limitations of the scan and know when to refer for further imaging.
•  Diagnose perinephric collections, renal and bladder lesions, cysts and calculi
•  Diagnose and grade hydronephrosis
•  Measure bladder wall thickness, bladder and prostate volume
•  Issue a report

•  Recognize the evidence base underpinning the use of US in interventional procedures vs a landmark approach
•  Infection control measures and sterility
•  Evaluate the venous anatomy of the upper limb venous system using ultrasound
•  Assess vein suitability using the WASPS approach
•  Differentiate veins, arteries, nerves, muscles and tendons
•  Optimising probe alignment for intervention
•  Utilise in-plane and out-of-plane approaches for guided vascular access and interventions such as aspiration
•  Use ultrasound to confirm successful cannulation

•  Appreciate the sonoanatomy of normal soft tissue
•  Recognise the appearance of normal and abnormal lymph nodes
•  Diagnose lipomas and differentiate between cellulitis and abscess
•  Anatomy, sonoanatomy and pathophysiology of appendicitis
•  Alternative differential diagnosis for RIF pain inc ilieitis and adenitis
•  Sonoanatomy of small and large intestine
•  Pathophysiology and sonoanatomy of intestinal obstruction, enteritis and diverticulitis
•  Issue a report