Advanced ECHO: The Alfred Critical Care Echocardiography Course November 2027
Event Overview
The course is created specifically for the critical care doctor wishing to advance their transthoracic echocardiography skills and knowledge beyond a basic level 1 study.
The course syllabus is primarily case based, with a series of lectures, practical scanning and dynamic interactive tutorials designed to articulate the concepts necessary for comprehensive image interpretation and to stimulate critical thinking.
Course Objectives
Acute hemodynamic assessment
- Produce accurate measurements of cardiac output, LVOT VTI, left atrial pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, and right atrial pressure.
- Understand the key features in echo assessment of the 4 classes of shock (cardiogenic, obstructive, vasodilatory and hypovolemic).
- Understand the effects of inotropes when performing a hemodynamic assessment.
Comprehensive critical care LV assessment
- Critically evaluate various methods to evaluate LV systolic function
- Understand the key parameters for diastolic function assessment
- Understand the hemodynamic and echo principles of LVOT obstruction assessment
- Discuss the key echo features of acute myocarditis, acute ST elevation infarction and stress cardiomyopathy
Learning Approach
- Includes pre-course reading materials
- Expert-led teaching by ICU Consultants
- Supportive and interactive environment
Critical care valvular assessment
- Demonstrate how to reliably measure the 2D and Doppler components relevant to assessment of aortic stenosis.
- Appreciate the effect of altered hemodynamic loading condition of aortic stenosis severity including the differences between low flow – low gradient aortic stenosis, and normal flow – low gradient aortic stenosis.
- Demonstrate the key parameters relevant to grading aortic regurgitation, and explain the important features of LV assessment in a patient with severe aortic regurgitation.
- Accurately measure and interpret mitral stenosis severity, and understand the effects of altered hemodynamic loading conditions.
- Reliably measure mitral regurgitant volume and the pitfalls of various measures of mitral regurgitation severity assessment in the critical care setting.
Who Should Attend
Intended Audience
Designed for busy practitioners, the course requires no specific pre‑reading.
Participants should already have a solid foundation in echocardiography, including completion of a Level 1 course (such as FCU) and around 30 basic transthoracic echo studies. No further pre course preparation is required.
CPD Requirements
CPD points/hours have been allocated by the below organisations. Registrants should use the information above to apply for recognition. Please note that you will not be granted automatic recognition, you must make a claim with your College.
- 1 point per hour (13Hrs 5Mins)
Lectures: Cat 2A- 1 point per hour
Skill Station: Cat 3B- 3 points per hour
Event Details
When
Where