Functional Architecture of Stress Echocardiography Harefield Hybrid Approach (Virtual)

Overview of the Echocardiograph Course

This course is designed to provide healthcare professionals with a comprehensive understanding of stress echocardiography - a vital diagnostic tool in cardiology. It is suitable to the diverse audiences, including physicians, nurses, and sonographers, who are involved in the assessment and management of patients with cardiovascular conditions. The course is also suitable for the practicing clinicians to learn about approach practiced at Harefield hospital. There will be a chance to expand your knowledge to cross-sectional imaging (CT, MRI and nuclear imaging) to enhance your general understanding of modern multi-modality imaging. 

Course Objectives

The primary objective of our stress echocardiography course is to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform and interpret stress echocardiography effectively. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to:

• Understand the fundamental principles of stress testing in various pathologies 

• Identify normal and abnormal cardiac response to stress 

• Utilize various stress echo protocols and image enhancement techniques to obtain high-quality images and comprehensive database 

• Analyse stress echocardiography findings in diagnosing various cardiac conditions such as ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and cardiomyopathies.

  
  

Course Structure

The course spans over several days and includes a blend of theoretical lectures, interactive discussions, and optional hands-on practical sessions at the end. Expert speakers will cover key topics. These lectures are designed to provide a solid foundation in both the technical and clinical aspects of stress echocardiography. The course will also include the analysis of real-life case studies, encouraging participants to apply their knowledge in a clinical context. This interactive component fosters critical thinking and enhances the ability to correlate stress echo findings with clinical scenarios. 

Day 1 will be dedicated to coronary artery disease. We'll kick off with a thorough review of current stress echocardiography guidelines, its role in clinical practice and research. You will be given practical advice how to set up stress laboratory including equipment and medications. You will learn about optimal patient preparation and care, integrated care pathway particularly for patients with inducible regional wall motion abnormalities. Most importantly you will get tips on image optimization techniques. We'll also cover the 17-segment LV model and the appropriate use of contrast agents.

We will dive beyond standard stress echocardiography and explore other cross-sectional imaging tests such as CT, CMR and SPECT, and, of course, discover our unique hybrid protocol. 

Day 2 will be dedicated to problems related to viability, heart failure including the right heart failure and cardiomyopathies. You will be provided with deep cellular insight of viability and learn about the critical role of stress echocardiography in assessing myocardial viability. 

You will gain expertise in applying stress echo in challenging settings, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and dynamic gradients, as well as constrictive pericarditis.

There will be a session on right heart and pulmonary pressure to help you understand the right heart's response and pulmonary pressure dynamics during exercise.

On the third day, we'll dive into advanced topics related to valvular heart disease. We'll begin by reviewing the anatomy and echocardiographic landmarks of the cardiac valves, providing a crucial foundation for the discussions that follow. We'll then explore stress echocardiography in patients with mitral stenosis (MS), covering indications, protocols, and essential views. Our attention will then shift to stress echocardiography in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), examining indications and protocols in detail. We'll also dedicate significant time to AS, specifically addressing the complexities of low-flow, low-gradient severe AS with both reduced and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The course will also cover stress echocardiography in patients with severe asymptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR), outlining protocols, views, and indications. We will discuss the approach to patients presenting with two left heart valve lesions and delve into mitral annular disjunction. Finally, we'll examine the role of stress echocardiography in symptomatic patients with modest valvular lesions, severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and asymptomatic patients with severe valvular disease on resting echocardiography.

Benefits of Attending the Course

Learning from Expert Speakers

The course features expert speakers who will cover key topics, ensuring you receive high-quality, up-to-date information and insights from leaders in the field.

Comprehensive and Integrated Learning Approach Practical Skills and Critical Thinking Development

The inclusion of real-life case studies is a key benefit, encouraging you to apply your knowledge in a clinical context. This interactive component is designed to foster critical thinking and enhance your ability to correlate stress echo findings with various clinical scenarios. You'll receive practical tips on image optimization techniques, crucial for accurate diagnosis.

CPD Points and Certification: 

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded 8 BSE points, contributing to your ongoing professional learning. Furthermore, you will receive an official Certificate of Completion, a valuable credential to demonstrate your specialized knowledge in stress echocardiography.

Expand Your Professional Network

You will have the chance to meet directly with leading experts in stress echocardiography at our department's face-to-face sessions. This is an invaluable opportunity to engage with them, ask questions, and build lasting professional relationships with both faculty and peers. These interactions can significantly broaden your professional network and provide mentorship opportunities.

We are confident that our stress echocardiography course is a unique educational opportunity for healthcare professionals seeking to advance their skills in cardiac imaging. With a focus on both theory and practical application, this course prepares participants to utilize stress echocardiography effectively in their clinical practice, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes in the field of cardiology.

This course promises to be an invaluable learning experience. We look forward to welcoming you!