Back Module: S-V-S2

Advanced Practice - Arterial

Module information

Module details

Title
Advanced Practice - Arterial
Type
Specialist
Module code
S-V-S2
Credits
10
Phase
3
Requirement
Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module aims to equip trainees with an introduction to assessment of lower limb arterial pathology. Trainees should, on completion of this module, be confident to triage, examine and report investigations for lower limb arterial disease including obstructive and aneurysmal conditions.

Work-based content

Training activities

# Learning outcome Training activity Type Action
# 1 Learning outcome 1 Training activities

Triage incoming referrals

 Type ETA Action View
# 2 Learning outcome 2,4,9 Training activities

Perform optimised ultrasound scans following a set protocol to identify normal lower limb arterial anatomy (Aorta to ankle)

 Type ETA Action View
# 3 Learning outcome 2,4,5,9 Training activities

Perform optimised ultrasound scans and correctly identify and grade significant disease of the:

  • Suprainguinal arteries
  • Femoral artery
  • Popliteal artery
 Type ETA Action View
# 4 Learning outcome 2,4,5,9 Training activities

Perform optimised ultrasound scans and correctly identify calf artery disease

 Type ETA Action View
# 5 Learning outcome 5,9 Training activities

Analyse and interpret the results of a lower limb arterial ultrasound scans for:

  • Acute occlusion
  • Chronic disease/occlusion
 Type ETA Action View
# 6 Learning outcome 3,4,5,9 Training activities

Perform optimised ultrasound scans and correctly identify a:

  • Peripheral aneurysm (non-aortic)
  • Pseudo aneurysm
 Type ETA Action View
# 7 Learning outcome 2,4,5,9 Training activities

Perform optimised ultrasound scans to correctly determine patency of a lower limb bypass graft

 Type ETA Action View
# 8 Learning outcome 6,9 Training activities

Produce descriptive clinical reports of ultrasound scan analysis

 Type ETA Action View
# 9 Learning outcome 7,8 Training activities

Communicate findings of arterial scans to:

  • The multidisciplinary team
  • A patient
 Type ETA Action View
# 10 Learning outcome 4 Training activities

Identify and minimise artefacts caused by pathology during  ultrasound scans of the lower limb arteries using:

  • B mode
  • Colour Doppler
  • Spectral Doppler
 Type ETA Action View

Assessments

Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions

Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs

Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles

  • Complete an arterial scan from aorta to ankle on a patient with pathology.
  • Perform and interpret a routine surveillance duplex scan of a lower limb bypass graft.

Observed Clinical Event Titles

  • Discuss risk factors and modification with a patient.
  • Gather a clinical history from a patient with acute arterial symptoms.

Learning outcomes

# Learning outcome
1

Review and triage referrals for lower limb arterial disease.
2

Assess disease in the lower limb arteries using ultrasound.
3

Assess peripheral aneurysms using ultrasound.
4

Apply ultrasound physics to correctly optimise an ultrasound scan of the lower limb arteries.
5

Analyse and interpret the ultrasound findings of diseased arteries of the lower limb with reference to haemodynamics.
6

Produce an interpretive clinical report of the lower limb arterial ultrasound findings.
7

Identify and communicate the results of the scan to both patients and the multidisciplinary team.
8

Summarise the treatment pathways for lower limb PAD.
9

Appraise the impact of research evidence on national guidelines.

Clinical experiences

Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.

Activities

  1. Observe arterial assessment of the upper limb.
  2. Observe diabetic foot/podiatry clinic.
  3. Observer vascular outpatient clinics.
  4. Observe lower limb arterial surgery.
  5. Observe interventional radiology procedure.
  6. Observe conservative management – e.g. claudication exercise class.
  7. Observe measurements being taken of the microvascular system (thermography, nailfold capillaroscopy and laser Doppler).

Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)

Important information

The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate expected underlying haemodynamics and pathology of lower limb arterial disease, demonstrating a critical awareness of the diversity and urgency of presenting signs and symptoms.
  2. Critically evaluate the expected co-morbidity associated with arterial disease and explain the health and safety risks during the investigation and how they are managed.
  3. Critically appraise the infection risks associated with arterial ultrasound of patients with suspected arterial disease and how these are managed.
  4. Critically evaluate the need to convey complex scientific information to inform multidisciplinary teams of the diagnostic results, conclusions and consequences.
  5. Critically appraise evidence-based guidelines relating to arterial disease investigation and management.

Indicative content

Lower Limb Arteries and PAD

Vascular Anatomy and Pathology
  • Anatomical variations relevant to ultrasound scanning
  • Symptoms, definitions and signs (introduced in year 1)
  • Atherosclerotic, embolic, thrombotic occlusions
    • Trash foot, diabetic foot
  • Acute and chronic obstructive disease
  • Aneurysms
Patient management
  • Medical and lifestyle modifications
  • Endovascular
    • Percutaneous revascularisation
    • Angioplasty
    • Atherectomy
    • Embolectomy
    • Stents
  • Surgical
    • Grafts
    • Graft types
    • Amputations
  • Pathways, guidelines and recommendations
  • Emerging treatments, procedures and trials
Ultrasound scanning
  • Role of ultrasound in assessing lower limb arteries
    • Spectral waveforms and haemodynamic grading of stenoses
  • Role of ultrasound in assessing arterial bypass grafts
    • Graft failure causes
  • Protocol recommendations
  • Limitations and technical challenges
    • Calcification and shadowing, diabetes
    • Deep vessels, small vessels
  • Ultrasound reporting recommendations and guidelines
    • Graft surveillance
Complementary lower limb imaging (introduced in year 1)
  • CTA and MRA, DSA

Abdomen

Abdominal vascular anatomy and pathology
  • Aorta, renal arteries, hepatic arteries, mesenteric arteries and portal vein
  • Symptoms, definitions and signs
  • Aneurysms, stenoses, fibromuscular dysplasia, hypertension, organ pathology, including chronic liver disease and transplantation
Patient management
  • Medical and lifestyle modifications
  • Endovascular
    • Percutaneous revascularisation
    • Stents
  • Surgical
    • AAA repair and stents
Role of ultrasound in assessing abdominal vessels
  • B mode measurements and AAA, renal length
  • Spectral waveforms and haemodynamic grading of stenoses in renal arteries, mesenteric ischaemia, flow in portal vein, hepatic artery and organ transplantation assessment-liver and kidney
  • CEUS and assessing endovascular leaks, and organ perfusion
  • 3D ultrasound and abdominal vessel measurements
  • Organ and transplant assessment
  • Complementary diagnostic imaging
    • Role of MRA/DSA/MRA (introduced in year 1)
    • Intravascular ultrasound
  • Limitations and technical challenges
  • Ultrasound guidelines
    • Principles of screening
    • AAA surveillance
Emerging technology and research
  • Fusion imaging
  • Microflow
  • 3D imaging

Non-atherosclerotic ultrasound

Role of ultrasound in assessing arteries for vascular conditions and syndromes:
  • TOS
  • Popliteal or other large vessel entrapment
  • Buerger’s disease
  • Arterial assessment for flap formation in reconstructive surgery
  • Takayasu’s arteritis
  • Fibromuscular dysplasia

Microvascular

Anatomy relevant to microvascular imaging

Technology: imaging and non-imaging
  • Thermography
  • Laser Doppler
  • Capillaroscopy
  • Oxygen based assessments
  • Pre-scanning protocols
Pathology and clinical applications
  • Raynaud’s
  • Amputation level
  • Tissue viability
  • Oxygen status and perfusion
Emerging microvascular technology and research
  • Alternatives to conventional BP assessments, PPG

Module assigned to

Specialties

Specialty code Specialty title Action
Specialty code SPS1-2-22 Specialty title Vascular Science [2022] Action View
Specialty code SPS1-2-23 Specialty title Vascular Science [2023] Action View
Specialty code SPS1-2-24 Specialty title Vascular Science [2024] Action View
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