Credit Information
Credit Type
* AMA PRA Category 1™
Number of Credits
3
Course Overview
This course covers the sonographic evaluation of the hepatoportal system, focusing on liver anatomy, vascular patterns, and associated disorders such as portal hypertension, portal vein thrombosis, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Learn how Doppler ultrasound techniques, including color, spectral, and power Doppler, are used to assess blood flow in the liver, portal vein, hepatic veins, and collateral vessels. The course also highlights the role of ultrasound in identifying common and uncommon anatomical variations, diagnosing hepatoportal diseases, and monitoring post-procedural changes, such as those following Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedures. Key topics include patient preparation, instrumentation, and the importance of optimized Doppler settings for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
Course Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant will:
Describe the vascular anatomy of the liver and common anatomic variations.
Discuss the most common hepatoportal disorders and the associated alterations in blood flow.
Define the systematic sonographic evaluation of a patient with suspected hepatoportal disease.
Relate the most commonly encountered portosystemic collateral pathways in patients with portal hypertension.
Describe sonographic features of TIPS dysfunction.
Target Audience
Physicians, sonographers, and others who perform and/or interpret ultrasound.
* AMA PRA Category 1 ™ credits are used by physicians and other groups like PAs and certain nurses. Category 1 credits are accepted by the ARDMS, CCI, ACCME, and Sonography Canada.
