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Cardiovascular CT Imaging:
Intensive Level II Training Course & Introduction to 3D Vascular Angiography
Co-sponsored by Sentara
| DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE WITH COMPLETE DETAILS, AGENDA AND REGISTRATION INFO | 2008 Program Dates June 2-6 August 25-29 September 15-19 October 20-24 November 10-14 December 1-5 |
2009 Program Dates January 19-23 February 23-27 March 23-27 April 20-24 May 18-22 |
All programs at Sentara Heart Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia.
- Accredited for 41.5 CME hours
- Comprehensive Cardiac Interpretation
- Typical &Tertiary Referral Cases
- Cath, IVUS, ICE, Nuclear, MRI, & Echo Correlations
INFO LINKS:
Course Format : Target Audience : Objectives : Location : Dates : Tuition : Registration
Vendor Exhibits : Schedule : Typical & Referral Cases : Accommodations : Faculty
About CVAL & Sentara : Accreditation : Educational Grants : Contact Info
Course Information
Multiple approaches to evaluation of cardiovascular CT studies exist with varying accuracy depending on the type of workstation, type of scanner, referral population, patient selection, and training mentor preferences. Few courses offer an algorithmic, comprehensive approach to interpretation and offer coronary cath/ IVUS, echo, and MRI correlations or review extracardiac thoracic interpretation or the application of CTA to peripheral angiography. Many clinical CT coronary imaging programs have no ongoing internal cath correlation programs for quality assurance. Sentara Heart Hospital and Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd. have joined together to design a comprehensive course to provide a unified educational program based on the standards co-developed by the ACC and SCCT.
A distinguished faculty will conduct a five day program acquiring and interpreting cardiovascular CT angiographic studies in a focused environment offering (1) an algorithmic, comprehensive approach to interpretation of up to 210 studies, with emphasis on elimination of interpretation errors (2) invasive angiographic correlations for most cases (3) instruction in extracardiac thoracic interpretation, and (4) instruction in CT peripheral angiography and MRA angiography.
Course Format
The emphasis will be hands-on interpretation of teaching cases with correlation to clinical history, outcome, other imaging studies, as well as interpretation of daily consecutive cases with appropriate reporting in a small group format limited to 9 participants per week. One physician will be assigned to each state-of-the-art workstation. In addition, the format will utilize a combination of lectures on clinical & operational subject matter, live patient preparation and acquisitions, videotaped acquisitions, 20 minute intermittent ‘chalk talks’, and daily and self-assessment questions to underscore key material, pitfalls, and artifacts.
A certificate of course participation toward ACC and SCCT Level II or III certification will include the number of contrast and non-contrast cases covered, the number of cases with correlation to invasive coronary angiography, the number of hours of CME credits, live patient acquisitions and an anonymous patient list using case numbers enumerating and identifying the indication and diagnosis.
Target Audience
- Cardiovascular Disease Specialists
- Radiologists
- Fellows-in-training
- Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons
Objectives
After the activity, participants will be able to…
- Operate a 3-dimensional workstation to extract pertinent information from a thoracic volume of interest (VOI), then analyze and interpret the cardiovascular findings systematically, using the VRT-MIP-MPR method, to construct a complete and accurate Cardiovascular CT Report
- Judge the quality of Cardiovascular CT studies and its relationship to cardiac CT technical factors including the advantages and disadvantages of various types of cardiovascular CT scanners: 32 slice, 64 slice, 256 slice, dual source CT, and PET-CT hybrid imaging
- Formulate an acquisition protocol for CT contrast administration, recognizing the kinetics of triphasic injection and caveats in special patient populations such as those with valvular disease, a history of adverse reactions to contrast media, intra-cardiac shunts, and high BMI
- Cite CT radiation dose reduction strategies, radiation risk measures, and published radiation dose values in comparison to other cardiac modalities, and manipulate CT scan collimation, temporal resolution, and the three fields-of-view for cardiac patients to minimize risks to the patient
- Characterize plaque density and vulnerability for individual lesions, difference between abnormal findings and image artifact, and caveats of stenosis estimation including the effect of window and level view settings
- Evaluate regional contractility, calculated estimation of ejection fraction, myocardial resting perfusion, native and mechanical valves, and pericardial disease
- Evaluate typical and complex tertiary referral studies including acute aortic syndromes, pulmonary embolism, simple congenital heart disease, post-aortic surgery studies, pre and post electrophysiologic intervention, and cardiac masses, etc. (see table of typical and tertiary cases presented)
- Interpret extracardiac thoracic structures such as pleural effusions, lung nodules, lymphadenopathy, infiltrates and cite the Fleischner Society guidelines for Management of Small Pulmonary Nodules Detected on CT Scans
- Construct an appropriate workflow and staff training program, utilizing the patient SPARR (Selection, Preparation, Acquisition, Reconstruction, and Reporting) system including the appropriate integration into clinical care
Course Location
Sentara Heart Hospital Cardiac Diagnostic Unit and Advanced Imaging Center
Physician Reading Room
600 Gresham Drive, Norfolk, Virginia
Tuition
- $4650 for Practicing Physicians
- $1500 for Fellows-in-training with letter of verification from the Program Director.
Tuition includes digital course syllabus on thumb drive, interpretation manual, and CME certification.
Registration
Space availability is limited to 9 participants and registrations are accepted on a first payment-received basis. The deadline for Registration is 45 days prior to the start of each course. Please call the Course Coordinators at (757) 383-0868 or (757) 547-9294 Ext. 213 to confirm a course date, then complete the Registration Form and send it along with your payment to:
Course Coordinators, Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd.
5700 Cleveland Street, Suite 228
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
If paying by credit card, you may fax the completed registration form to the Course Coordinators, at Fax (757) 213-9362. Upon receipt of your registration, a confirmation letter and list of accommodations will be mailed and emailed to the addresses listed on your Registration form.
Cancellation for any reason over 6 weeks prior to the course date will result in a complete refund of tuition. Between 4 -6 weeks prior to the course date, 50% of the tuition will be refunded. Between 2-4 weeks prior to the course date, 25% of the tuition will be refunded. No refunds will be made for cancellations within 2 weeks of the course start date.
Vendor Exhibits
An Exhibition hall for Vendors will be open on Wednesday and Thursday of each course.
Typical & REFERRAL CASES
- Acute Aortic Syndromes: Ascending and Descending aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Coarctation of the aorta: repaired & unrepaired
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Pre-surgical evaluation: pre-minimally invasive valve surgery, pre Tetralogy of Fallot pulmonic valve replacement
- Post-surgical evaluations: Anastomic pseudoaneurym post dissection repair • Left ventricular assist device: Heart Mate II
- Transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA), s/p Mustard; Congenitally Corrected TGA
- Pre-atrial fibrillation left atrium and pulmonary vein angiography
- Post atrial fibrillation pulmonary vein stenosis
- Subaortic membrane
- Prosthetic valve
- LA myxoma
- RA pseudotumor
- Left atrial appendage thrombus
- Sinus venosus ASD with PAPVR
- Ductus diverticulum
- Diverticulum of Kommerel
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
Accommodations
Hotel Accommodations
Hotel accommodations are available in downtown Norfolk where one can enjoy a broad spectrum of shopping and nightlife activities or on the Virginia Beach oceanfront, which is a short drive from Sentara Heart?Hospital. Early reservations are encouraged. Information on hotel accommodations in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, that are available at discounted rates, is available by contacting the Course Coordinators at (757) 383-0868 or (757) 547-9294 Ext. 213, on the course website at www.cval.org or at Email: cvalcourse@cval.org
Special Accommodations
The Americans with Special Disabilities Act of 1990 requires that all individuals regardless of disability have equal access. If special arrangements are required to attend this course due to a disability, contact a Course Coordinator.
Faculty
Mohit Bhasin, MD
Mohit Bhasin, MD is a recognized leader in the field of Cardiovascular MRI and CT and has a history of publication in national peer-reviewed journals and presentation of research at national scientific meetings. He organized an acclaimed year long course on Cardiovascular CT and MRI for cardiology and radiology fellows, an effort recognized in “Today in Cardiology” in November 2005. A former George Starbuck Fellow at Boston University in Creative Writing, Robert Woodruff Scholar in Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and prior Chief Cardiovascular Fellow at Emory University, Dr. Bhasin serves as the Medical Director of Cardiovascular CT and MRI Imaging at Sentara Heart Hospital and is an Assistant Professor, Clinical Internal Medicine & Cardiovascular Diseases at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He recently appeared in a “US News and World Report” issue devoted to the best hospitals in the United States.
Steven Jones, MD
Steven Jones, MD is Assistant Professor, Clinical Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases at the Eastern Virginia Medical School and Director of Preventive Cardiology, Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd. Dr. Jones, as one of only a few board-certified lipidologists in Virginia, has been a regional leader in state-of-the-art preventive cardiology, lipid management, cardiovascular disease risk stratification and intensive cardiovascular risk modification.
Richard J. Thomas, MD
Richard Thomas, MD is Assistant Professor of Radiology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He completed his radiology residency at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh and a Cross-Sectional Imaging fellowship at the University of Michigan Health System. He has served as Director of Outpatient Imaging at the Executive Evaluation Center in Norfolk and is the Director of Radiology Services at Sentara Heart Hospital. Research projects currently include high resolution CT for the evaluation of lung carcinoma and CT radiation safety/dose reduction.
Tracy Adams, BS, RT (R)(CT) and Barbara Braddy, RN will assist in teaching patient preparation and acquisition.
Cardiovascular Associates
Cardiovascular Associates, Ltd. (CVAL) is a 20 physician consultant cardiology practice providing comprehensive consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, Virginia. As one of the largest cardiology groups in the Mid-Atlantic region, CVAL offer a full spectrum of cardiology services and expertise in all specialties of cardiac care and are major participants in many national research studies.
SENTARA HEART HOSPITAL
Heart and Heart Surgery services at Sentara Heart Hospital rank among the top 50 cardiac programs in the nation in the 2007 America’s Best Hospitals Edition of “U.S. News & World Report” magazine. The cardiac program at Sentara Heart Hospital ranks 33rd out of the top 50 hospitals listed. Additionally, Sentara Heart Hospital boasts a Mortality Ratio that is superior to eight of the top ten programs in the nation.
Sentara Heart Hospital opened in 2006 as the region’s only dedicated heart hospital, is unlike any facility within hundreds of miles. It unites a long-standing team of cardiac subspecialists within an advanced setting built from the ground up for superior cardiac care. Patients receive comprehensive cardiac services — from diagnostics to open heart surgery and transplants — at one location.
Located on the Campus of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Sentara Heart Hospital features 112 private inpatient rooms and 45 pre/post-op procedure rooms for patients undergoing interventional cardiac procedures. Sentara Heart Hospital has five dedicated cardiac operating rooms, six cardiac catheterization labs, and the region’s first dedicated Cardiovascular CT and MRI.
Accreditation Statement
Sentara Healthcare is accredited by the Medical Society of Virginia to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Sentara Healthcare designates this educational activity for a maximum of 41.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Educational Grants
St. Jude Medical has generously supported this course with an educational grant. Requests for support have been made in accordance with ACCME Standards. A complete list of commercial supporters is available and acknowledgement is given to all supporters at the time of the educational activity and on the course website.
Contact Information
Course Coordinators
(757) 383-0868 or (757) 547-9294 Ext. 213
Email: cvalcourse@cval.org
Disclosures
Faculty and staff who are in a position to control the content of this activity are required to disclose all real or apparent conflicts of interest. Faculty and staff disclosures can be reviewed by contacting the Course Coordinator.
Acknowledgements
Major program support is provided by the following companies:
- Terarecon
- St. Judes Medical