Ultrasound Assessment of the Abdominal Vasculature

Sonography Fundamentals

Materials Included

Text
Video
Anatomy
Simulation
Quiz

This module teaches you how to prepare for and perform an ultrasound examination of the abdominal vasculature.

This module teaches you how to prepare for and perform an ultrasound examination of the abdominal vasculature. The interactive simulator provides three different scan scenarios, including normal and pathological cases. It enables students and practitioners to build or refresh knowledge and cognitive skills, and offers a safe online practice environment so you can prepare for the real clinical world. Ideal if you are studying for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) registry exams.

You’ll learn

to practice, perfect and test your skills in performing an ultrasound scan of the abdominal vasculature
to better visualize and understand the key anatomical structures and components comprising the abdominal vasculature, with our 3D model and illustrations
identify signs and symptoms of abdominal vascular disease
how to differentiate normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the abdominal vessels
how to obtain images of the abdominal vessels
how to explain and demonstrate the use of breathing techniques to obtain optimal images of the abdominal vessels
much more (see “content details” for more specific information).

Step 0 - Introduction

Step 0.1 - Principles of Doppler ultrasound

Step 0.2 - Basic physiology of the abdominal blood vessels

Step 0.2.1 - Signs and symptoms of abdominal vascular disease

Step 1 - Preparation

Step 1.1 - Equipment preparation

Step 1.2 - Patient preparation

Step 1.3 - Operator preparation

Step 2 - Expose the abdomen and apply gel

Step 3 - Select the transducer and obtain images of the abdominal blood vessels

Step 4 - Commence the scanning protocol for the abdominal blood vessels

Step 4.1 - Patient position

Step 4.2 - Scan plane

Step 4.3 - Images required

Step 4.4 - Annotations required

Step 4.5 - Sonographic features of normal abdominal vessels

Step 4.5.1 - Sonographic features of the normal abdominal aorta

Step 4.5.2 - Sonographic features of the normal celiac axis

Step 4.5.3 - Sonographic features of the normal common hepatic artery

Step 4.5.4 - Sonographic features of the normal splenic artery

Step 4.5.5 - Sonographic features of the normal superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Step 4.5.6 - Sonographic features of the normal renal arteries

Step 4.5.7 - Sonographic features of the normal inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)

Step 4.5.8 - Sonographic features of the normal inferior vena cava (IVC)

Step 4.5.9 - Sonographic features of the normal renal veins

Step 4.5.10 - Sonographic features of the normal superior mesenteric vein (SMV)

Step 4.5.11 - Sonographic features of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)

Step 4.5.12 - Sonographic features of the splenic vein

Step 4.5.13 - Sonographic features of the normal portal vein

Step 4.6 - Variants

Step 4.7 - Troubleshooting

Step 5 - Scan the aorta

Step 5.1 - Scan the proximal aorta in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.2 - Scan the mid aorta in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.3 - Scan the distal aorta in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.4 - With the patient in the supine position scan the aorta in the transverse plane

Step 5.5 - Obtain a Doppler spectral trace of the aorta

Step 5.6 - Scan celiac artery in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.7 - Scan the celiac artery in the transverse plane

Step 5.8 - Pathology of the celiac axis

Step 5.9 - Scan the SMA in the longitudinal plane

Step 5.10 - Scan the SMA in the transverse plane

Step 5.11 - Pathology of the SMA

Step 6 - Scan the inferior vena cava

Step 6.1 - Scan the proximal inferior vena cava (IVC) in the longitudinal plane

Step 6.2 - Scan the distal inferior vena cava (IVC) in the longitudinal plane

Step 6.3 - Scan the inferior vena cava (IVC) in the transverse plane

Step 6.4 - Obtain a Doppler spectral trace of the inferior vena cava

Step 7 - Scan the portal venous system

Step 7.1 - Obtain longitudinal images of the main portal vein (MPV)

Step 7.2 - Obtain a Doppler spectral trace of main portal vein (MPV)

Step 7.3 - Obtain longitudinal images of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV)

Step 7.4 - Obtain a Doppler trace of the SMV

Step 7.5 - Obtain a longitudinal image of the splenic vein

Step 7.6 - Obtain a Doppler trace of the splenic vein

Step 7.7 - Obtain a longitudinal image of the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV)

Step 7.8 - Obtain a Doppler trace of the IMV

Step 8 - Complete the procedure

Indications for ultrasound of the abdominal blood vessels
Identify abdominal vascular anatomy on diagrams and sonograms
List signs and symptoms of abdominal vascular disease
Abdominal vascular protocol
- Equipment preparation - transducer and preset selection
- Patient preparation
- Patient positioning
- Transducer positions
- Scan planes
- Identify and obtain sonographic images of the aorta, abdominal aortic branches, and common iliac arteries
- Identify and obtain sonographic images of the inferior vena cava and its tributaries
- Identify and obtain sonographic images of the portal vein, superior mesenteric vein, inferior mesenteric vein, and splenic vein
- Obtain Doppler spectral traces of the aorta and inferior vena cava
Explain and demonstrate the use of breathing techniques to obtain optimal sonographic images of the blood vessels
Differentiate normal and abnormal sonographic appearances of the vascular system
Identify and describe common pathology of the abdominal vasculature
Explain the important ultrasound characteristics when evaluating an abdominal aortic aneurysm
Describe the normal and abnormal Doppler patterns of the vascular structures
Explain the Patient's Bill of Rights, HIPAA Privacy Rule, and Patient Safety Act

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long