Ultrasound Masterclass: The Carotid Artery

UltrasoundVideo course

by Theresa Fail

Carotid ultrasound is crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of extracranial vascular disease. In this course, you’ll learn how to optimize the scanner controls as well as recognize and identify normal and atypical carotid, subclavian, and vertebral arteries using ultrasound images and flow patterns. You’ll learn how to make key measurements and use these to categorize disease and write a report.

3 CME

6 Quizzes

What’s in it for you?

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After completing this course, you will be able to

Evaluate the rationale for performing carotid, vertebral, and subclavian artery ultrasound investigations
Optimize ultrasound scanner settings for extracranial arterial cerebral ultrasound investigations
Critically evaluate the expected hemodynamics and underlying pathology of carotid and vertebrobasilar circulation
Perform an ultrasound investigation of the extracranial carotid, vertebral, and subclavian arteries
Recognize normal and abnormal images and flow patterns in the carotid, subclavian, and vertebral arteries
Critically evaluate carotid stenosis grading criteria and plaque characterization tools for the appropriate interpretation of the data
Interpret scan results and produce succinct and reliable report of findings
Recognize when investigation findings require urgent action
Make and record accurate measurements from the ultrasound images and Doppler waveforms

What's inside

Free

Chapter 1

Setting the scene

This chapter discusses the reasons a patient might be referred for a carotid, subclavian, or vertebral scan and recaps essential anatomy.

5 Lessons

10:50 min

Setting the scene intro

0:33 min

Reviewing essential cerebrovascular anatomy

3:11 min

Understanding the purpose of a carotid ultrasound scan

3:27 min

Recognizing the indications for a carotid ultrasound scan

3:39 min

Setting the scene quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 2

The basics

Here, you’ll learn fundamental ultrasound knowledge needed to perform and interpret your carotid scan, in particular, color and pulsed Doppler.

8 Lessons

25:06 min

The basics intro

0:29 min

Analyzing hemodynamics in the carotid territory

3:53 min

Reviewing ultrasound basics

7:07 min

Identifying flow directions in color flow

3:33 min

Ensuring a correct pulsed Doppler angle

2:42 min

Recognizing aliasing

4:47 min

Identifying safety issues

2:35 min

The basics quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 3

Adjusting the ultrasound scanner controls

Learn the essential scanner requirements for a carotid investigation. This chapter explains how to set the scanner up and optimize each ultrasound modality.

6 Lessons

15:55 min

Adjusting the ultrasound scanner controls intro

0:28 min

Setting up the scanner

2:11 min

Optimizing the B-mode image

4:22 min

Optimizing the color flow

3:45 min

Optimizing the pulsed Doppler

5:09 min

Adjusting the ultrasound scanner controls quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 4

Performing a scan

Here, you’ll learn how to perform a scan of the carotid, vertebral, and subclavian arteries, distinguish between the ICA and ECA, and ensure your measurements are accurate.

8 Lessons

27:17 min

Performing a scan intro

0:25 min

Positioning the patient

2:22 min

Scanning the extracranial arteries

5:28 min

Distinguishing the ICA from the ECA

4:47 min

Making accurate velocity measurements

4:09 min

Documenting the scan

3:14 min

Tackling difficult scans

6:52 min

Performing a scan quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 5

Recognizing pathology

This chapter shows you how to recognize normal and abnormal pathology in the carotid, subclavian, and vertebral arteries.

6 Lessons

14:54 min

Recognizing pathology intro

0:28 min

Identifying normal findings

4:22 min

Identifying carotid artery disease

3:56 min

Identifying subclavian and vertebral artery pathology

3:11 min

Identifying unusual pathologies

2:57 min

Recognizing pathology quiz

Quiz

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Chapter 6

Reporting the scan

Finally, you’ll learn all about carotid grading criteria, how to apply these, and use your results to write your report.

7 Lessons

19:38 min

Reporting the scan intro

0:43 min

Evaluating carotid artery grading criteria

7:36 min

Categorizing carotid artery disease

3:45 min

Evaluating plaque characteristics

3:11 min

Completing a report

3:29 min

Reporting the scan quiz

Quiz

Ultrasound Masterclass: The Carotid Artery outro

0:54 min

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Teachers of this course

Theresa Fail

Theresa is a clinical scientist in the Vascular Studies Unit, Salisbury Hospital and lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, UK.

Teacher profile

CME credit information

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of CME Consultants and Medmastery GmbH. CME Consultants is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Consultants designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Claim your certificate

All members receive a certificate for completing this course. Pro members also get 3 CME credits.

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Award-winning teaching method

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2013
Highly commended by the British Medical Association
Awarded in the digital category of the BMA Book Awards—London 2017
Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal
For outstanding digital education—Berlin 2017
Internationally accredited
CME accredited in the USA and EU with mutual recognition agreements in most other countries.
Trusted institutional partner
Used by residency programs and universities around the world to train their clinicians and students.
Top-rated by our learners
Rated excellent by hundreds of users on Trustpilot, an independent reviewing platform.

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What’s in it for you?

Master the most important skills

Learn any skill in under 5 hours

Save time and money

After completing this course, you will be able to

What's inside

Setting the scene

The basics

Adjusting the ultrasound scanner controls

Performing a scan

Recognizing pathology

Reporting the scan

Claim your certificate

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Medal

Highly commended by the British Medical Association

Winner of the Comenius EduMedia Seal

Internationally accredited

Trusted institutional partner

Top-rated by our learners