Program Overview

BMS332 Applied Cardiovascular Physiology

Overview

BMS332 Applied Cardiovascular Physiology explores the physiological basis for widely used cardiovascular measurement techniques, including resting, ambulatory, exercise and intracardiac ECGs, cardiac pacing and haemodynamic monitoring. Emphasis is placed on assessment of pathophysiology and expected clinical presentations.

Availability

• Session 2 (60)
• Online
• Wagga Wagga Campus

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Biomedical Sciences

Assumed Knowledge

BMS130 and RSC201

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to describe and explain the normal cardiac conduction system
• be able to define commonly used cardiac pathophysiology and diagnostic terminology including haemodynamic measurements
• be able to identify abnormal cardiac conditions, such as arrhythmias, conduction defects, and coronary artery disease, and explain their pathogenesis
• be able to explain the physiological basis for the electrocardiograph (ECG)
• be able to read and interpret diagnostic quality 12 lead ECG in order to differentiate between the normal ECG, and common abnormalities such as arrhythmias, conduction defects, cardiac hypertrophy, ion imbalance, ischaemia and infarction
• be able to explain the role of diagnostic imaging in differential diagnosis of cardiac disease
• be able to articulate and explain the rationales and processes for diagnostic protocols such as Stress ECG testing, ambulatory monitoring, electrophysiological testing and cardiac angiography
• be able to articulate and explain the rationales and processes for therapeutic protocols such as ablation therapy, artificial pacemakers, percutaneous interventions and coronary artery bypass grafts

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Cardiac electrophysiology including ECG theory, lead systems and calculation of the hexaxial plane
• Theoretical considerations for ECG and haemodynamic measurement
• ECG interpretation including rate and rhythm analysis
• Identification of arrhythmia and conduction disturbance
• Specialised electrocardiography testing
• Cardiac pacing
• The role of cardiac diagnostic imaging
• Haemodynamic monitoring
• Interventional cardiology