Revised 08/2008

DMS 150 - Echocardiography I (4 CR.)

Course Description

Presents the fundamentals of adult echocardiography including basic ultrasound scanning techniques of the heart. Students focus on anatomy, pathophysiology, and echocardiographic pattern recognition with real-time 2-D, 3-D & 4-D imaging, Doppler, and M-mode echocardiography. Lecture 3 hours. Laboratory 3 hours. Total 6 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce the fundamentals of echocardiography. Instruction and demonstration is provided for scanning the adult heart. 

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

The student must satisfactorily complete all previous sonography courses with a grade of "C" or better.

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify normal adult cardiac anatomy and physiology
  • Identify normal adult cardiac pressures
  • Identify echocardiographic controls.
  • Describe the effect of the controls on the ultrasound image.
  • Identify potential imaging artifacts.
  • Discuss the indications for transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.
  • Discuss the bioeffects that are associated with ultrasound.
  • Identify standard transthoracic windows.
  • Identify adult cardiac anatomy from standard transthoracic views.
  • Obtain measure and calculate M-mode data.
  • Obtain cardiac measurements from 2-D, 3-D and 4-D echocardiography.
  • Describe a routine Doppler examination.
  • Describe normal and abnormal Doppler profiles.
  • Calculate hemodynamic data using Doppler data.
  • Demonstrate all views obtained in a routine adult echocardiogram.
  • Describe Doppler physics.
  • Describe normal Doppler flow patterns.
  • Describe the use of Doppler echocardiography in assessing cardiac hemodynamics.
  • Describe the use of Doppler echocardiography in calculating valve area.
  • Recognize cardiac valvular pathology using echocardiography.
  • Discuss the findings associated with valvular disease.
  • Discuss constrictive pericarditis, effusions, cardiac tamponade.
  • Discuss the role of echocardiography in the treatment of pericardial disease.
  • Discuss the characteristics and echocardiographic findings of hypertrophic, dilated and restrictive cardiomyopathies.
  • Discuss the differentiation between restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis.
  • Identify the left ventricular wall segments from routine echocardiographic views.
  • Describe systolic wall motion abnormalities.
  • Evaluate wall motion abnormalities in accordance with the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography.
  • Discuss normal and abnormal diastolic function.
  • Describe the findings of Right Ventricular Volume Overload (RVVO).
  • Identify abnormal cardiac disease states that lead to RVVO.
  • Understand the segmental approach to a cardiac echocardiogram.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Heart Anatomy and Physiology
  • Nomenclature
  • Technique
  • Valvular Heart Disease
  • Pericardial Disease
  • Systemic & Pulmonary Hypertensive Heart Disease
  • Cardiomyopathies
  • Ventricular Function
  • Diastolic Function
  • Wall Motion Abnormalities