Cardiology:

Core Clinical Module Assignments

I. Access the Cardiology: Core Clinical course from the SonoSim® Course Library.
1. Review the entire course.
2. Complete the 20-question Mastery Test.

II. Access the Core Cardiology hands-on cases from the SonoSimulator®. From the ‘Case List’ menu, click ‘Cardiac’ and
then ‘Core Cardiology.’
From the toolbar, select the ‘Test’ button to enter assessment mode. Please save all images with the ‘Test’ button activated.
1. Case 1, Parasternal
a. Obtain a single best long-axis image of the heart that demonstrates a pathologic condition, and click ‘Freeze.’ Click ‘Annotate,’ and
in the text box, type “Heart w/[Pathologic Condition] PLAX.” Click ‘Save.’
2. Case 1, Subcostal
a. Obtain a single best long-axis (sagittal body plane) image of the inferior vena cava (IVC), and click ‘Freeze.’ Using the ‘Calipers,’
measure the anterior-posterior distance (i.e., diameter) of the IVC just distal to the hepatic veins. Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text
box, type “IVC diameter = [your measurement].” Click ‘Save.’
3. Case 2, Apical
a. Obtain a single best four-chamber view of the heart, and evaluate the left ventricle ejection fraction. Click ‘Freeze.’ Click ‘Annotate,’
and in the text box, type “L. Ventricle apical 4C; Ejection Fraction [> 55% or < 55%].” Click ‘Save.’
4. Case 4, Subcostal
a. Obtain a single best long-axis image of the heart that demonstrates the right ventricle at end-diastole, and click ‘Freeze’; use the
‘Frame’ buttons to optimize the timing of your image. Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box, type “R. Ventricle End-Diastole.” Click
‘Save.’
5. Case 4, Parasternal, Apical, Subcostal & IVC
a. Scan the parasternal, apical, subcostal, and IVC views, and obtain a single best parasternal long-axis image that demonstrates
the right ventricle at end-systole. Click ‘Freeze’; use the ‘Frame’ buttons to optimize the timing of your image. Click ‘Annotate,’ and
in the text box, describe at least three findings suggestive of cardiac tamponade; type “R. Ventricle End-Systole PLAX; [Pathologic
Findings].” Click ‘Save.’
6. Case 6, Parasternal
a. Scan through the heart in a parasternal short-axis view, and observe the contraction of the left ventricle. Obtain a single best
short-axis image of the left ventricle at the level of the papillary muscles, and click ‘Freeze.’ Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box,
type “L. Ventricle PSAX; Ejection Fraction = [Mildly, Moderately, or Severely] Diminished.” Click ‘Save.’
7. Case 8, Apical
a. Scan through the heart in an apical view, examining the cardiac chambers and evaluating contractility, and note any pathologic
findings. Obtain a single best four-chamber view of the heart at end-diastole, and click ‘Freeze’; use the ‘Frame’ buttons to
optimize the timing of your image. Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box, type “Heart End-Diastole apical 4C; [Pathologic Findings].”
Click ‘Save.’
8. Case 9, Parasternal
a. Scan through the heart in a parasternal long-axis view, examining the cardiac chambers and evaluating contractility. Obtain a
single best long-axis image of the heart at end-diastole, and click ‘Freeze’; use the ‘Frame’ buttons to optimize the timing of
your image. Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box, type “L. Ventricle PLAX; Ejection Fraction = [Mildly, Moderately, or Severely]
Diminished.” Click ‘Save.’

U.S. Patent No. 8,480,404. U.S. Patent No. 8,297,983. Copyright © 2021 SonoSim, Inc. All Rights Reserved
102521
 Cardiology:
Core Clinical Module Assignments

9. Case 9, Apical
a. Scan through the heart in an apical view, and examine the cardiac chambers. Obtain a single best four-chamber view of the
heart that captures the pacemaker lead in the right ventricle, and click ‘Freeze’; use the ‘Frame’ buttons to optimize the timing of
your image. Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box, type “R. Ventricle w/Pacemaker Lead.” Click ‘Save.’
10. Case 10, Subcostal
a. Scan through the heart in a subcostal view, and note any pathologic findings. Obtain a single best long-axis image of the heart
that demonstrates the ventricles at end-diastole, and click ‘Freeze’; use the ‘Frame’ buttons to optimize the timing of your image.
Click ‘Annotate,’ and in the text box, comment upon the left ventricle wall motion and describe at least one other pathologic
finding. Click ‘Save.’

*** You should have a total of TEN images saved to your SonoSim® Performance Tracker for this activity.

Clinical Pearls

It is important to have the ability to assess the heart using multiple image windows, given that certain image windows may be of limited
utility in certain patients (e.g., COPD patient with hyperinflated lungs limiting parasternal-window image quality). Echocardiography
provides care providers the ability to assess ventricular contractility, valvular function, and regional wall motion, and aids in the
management of coronary artery disease and other conditions that involve the heart (e.g., cardiac tamponade) (Farsi et al.).

Farsi D, Hajsadeghi S, Hajighanbari MJ. Focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) by emergency medicine residents in patients with suspected cardiovascular
diseases. J Ultrasound. 2017 May;20(2):133-138.

U.S. Patent No. 8,480,404. U.S. Patent No. 8,297,983. Copyright © 2021 SonoSim, Inc. All Rights Reserved
102521