Worldwide, echocardiography is the most widely used diagnostic imaging technique for the guidance and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. However, its teaching in specialty schools is superficial and does not allow for a professional use of the method or for having such a theoretical preparation as to allow the acquisition of national and international certifications of competence. Furthermore, particularly in the Anglo-Saxon and Middle Eastern world, the exams are performed by technical personnel (echocardiography technicians or graphers) who require specific theoretical and practical training in order to obtain national qualification for the profession.
Obtaining the master's degree provides doctors with a preferential qualification for employment in echocardiography laboratories and for applying for their direction. For cardiologists in the Middle East, the acquisition of a degree related to their profession at a recognized foreign university is supported by significant economic incentives. For non-medical personnel, obtaining a diploma is the only way to enter the profession.
1. History of echocardiography;
2. Physics of ultrasounds;
3. The transducers;
4.Artifacts in echocardiography;
5. Setting up the echo system;
6. Ergonomics for echocardiographers;
7. Respiratory maneuvers in echocardiography.
1. Transthoracic echocardiography (m-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography);
2. Doppler echocardiography and noninvasive hemodynamics;
3. Contrast echocardiography;
4. Transesophageal echocardiography;
5. Myocardial deformation imaging;
6. Threedimensional echocardiography;
7. Digital echocardiography laboratory.
1. Echocardiographic anatomy of the left ventricle. How to measure its size and function?;
2. Left ventricular systolic function beyond the ejection fraction;
3. left ventricular diastolic function;
4. Coronary anatomy and correlation with the coronary supply to left ventricular myocardial segments;
5. Chronic ischemic heart disease and acute coronary syndromes;
6. Mechanical complications of myocardial infarction;
7. Stress echocardiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.
1. Echocardiographic anatomy of the mitral valve;
2. Primary mitral regurgitation;
3. Secondary mitral regurgitation;
4. Mitral stenosis;
5. Stress- echocardiography in mitral valve diseases;
6. Mitral valve prostheses;
7. Echocardiographic anatomy of the aortic complex;
8. Aortic regurgitation;
9. Aortic stenosis;
10. Stressechocardiography in aortic valve diseases;
11. Aortic valve prostheses;
12. TAVR;
13. Heart valves and systemic diseases;
14. Infective endocarditis;
15. Echocardiographic anatomy and function of the tricuspid valve;
16. Tricuspid regurgitation.
1. Dilated cardiomyopathy;
2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
3. Storage and infiltrative myocardial diseases;
4. Right ventricular size and function;
5. Cardiac masses and tumors;
6. Arterial hypertension;
7. Myocarditis;
8. Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy;
9. Heart failure;
10. Heart transplant;
11. Constrictive pericarditis;
12. Systemic diseases involving the heart;
13. Athlete's heart;
14. Chemotherapy related cardiotoxicity;
15. Cardiac effects of radiotherapy.
1. Right ventricular size and function;
2. Atherosclerosis and diseases of the thoracic aorta;
3. Acute aortic syndromes;
4 Left and right atria;