Module - Extracranial Arterial Imaging (SPS129)
STP
Clinical experiential learning is the range of activities trainees may undertake in order to gain the experience and evidence to demonstrate their achievement of module competencies and assessments. The list is not definitive or mandatory, but training officers should ensure, as best training practice, that trainees gain as many of these clinical experiences as possible. They should be included in training plans, and once undertaken they should support the completion of module assessments and competencies within the e-portfolio.
Clinical experiential learning
- Identify a patient with a carotid artery disease requiring surgery and, with permission, follow the progress of the patient from the initial consultation through investigation, surgical intervention and the follow-up appointment and reflect on your learning from this process.
- Identify two patients with a carotid artery disease requiring surgery and critically reflect on the effect on the lifestyle of the patient and the role of the healthcare scientist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
- Observe a series of patients reviewed as new and follow-up patients and critically appraise the process of referral, diagnosis and treatment, including the range of healthcare professionals who contribute to the care of each patient and how the interprofessional team works together.
- Take part in a multidisciplinary meeting and reflect on the way the multidisciplinary team contributes to the care of patients with disorders of the cerebrovascular system.
- Prepare a portfolio of case studies and images from a series of volunteers or patients that demonstrate the normal characteristics of carotid and vertebral arteries on B Mode, colour Doppler and spectral Doppler including any variations in anatomy.
- Critically appraise the role of B Mode, colour Doppler and spectral Doppler in the assessment of carotid and vertebral arteries and reflect on the effect technique and probe positioning have on the images. A portfolio of evidence should include images and spectra obtained from the a variety of segments (e.g. common carotid artery origin, carotid bifurcation, internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, vertebral artery, subclavian artery) and clearly demonstrate the relationship with other structures used as landmarks (e.g. the thyroid, the internal jugular vein) and the effects of probe positioning (e.g. anterior or posterior positions).
- Prepare a portfolio of case studies and images from a series of patients that demonstrate a range of carotid artery stenoses (e.g. mild atheroma, 50% stenosis, >70% stenosis, >90% stenosis, occlusion).
- Critically appraise the role of B Mode, colour Doppler and spectral Doppler in the diagnosis of carotid artery disease and reflect on how these modes are utilised together to establish a diagnosis (e.g. plaque echogencity, colour filling, shape of flow waveforms). A portfolio of evidence should include images and spectra obtained from a variety of carotid artery stenoses (e.g. mild atheroma, 50% stenosis, >70% stenosis, >90% stenosis, occlusion) from a series of patients and clearly demonstrate the presence of carotid artery disease.
- Reflect on each patient’s response to their diagnosis.
- Prepare a portfolio of case studies and images from patients with incidental findings (e.g. vertebral artery disease, subclavian disease, thyroid pathology).
- Critically appraise the relevance of reporting incidental findings and reflect how these affect the patient’s treatment. A portfolio of evidence should include images obtained from an incidental finding.
- Keep a portfolio/logbook of all clinical scans performed/observed, noting challenges and risks encountered with reflections on learning achievements.