Program Overview

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MRS546 Obstetric Ultrasound

This subject is offered concurrently with supervised clinical practice to develop competency in obstetric sonography across all three trimesters of pregnancy, including appraisal of the developing fetus and placenta. The emphasis is on using the optimal technical approach and patient management to enable successful demonstration of normal anatomy and diagnosis of pathology.

Subject Outlines

Students will use a critical analytical approach to identify and understand the clinical questions and to demonstrate appropriate scanning techniques and acquisition of sonographic information. Interpretation of sonographic findings will be underpinned by a thorough understanding of the relevant embryologic, anatomic, physiologic, and pathologic processes.

Availability

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

Subject Information

Grading System

• HD/FL

Duration

• One session

School

• School of Dentistry and Health Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

• Available only to students enrolling in the Graduate Diploma or Master of Medical Ultrasound courses.

Assumed Knowledge

• Students are expected to have background knowledge of embryology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
• Students enrolled in MRS546 must be employed in a general ultrasound department under appropriate supervision for the duration of the subject.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to assess performed obstetric scans for each trimester of pregnancy to determine: estimation of gestational age; evaluation of fetal growth and presentation; presence of certain structural fetal abnormalities; presence of any maternal complications with knowledge of maternal risk factors.
• be able to undertake the following ultrasound examinations in a safe and ethical manner providing due care for the patient to a minimum level of advanced beginner: first trimester; second trimester; third trimester.
• be able to present sonographic images demonstrating a logical and methodical approach to scanning and communicate findings clearly and accurately.
• be able to recognise a range of normal and abnormal image appearances of the areas listed in the syllabus and explain the contributing role and nature of pathologic and developmental processes including fetal abnormalities and maternal complications.
• be able to explain the significance of clinical tests and complementary modalities relevant to topics within the syllabus.
• be able to critically evaluate their own professional practice.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

• Module 1. First Trimester including:
  • visualisation and localisation of the gestational sac (intra-uterine vs ectopic)
  • identification of embryonic demise or living embryo
  • determination of the number of embryos and the chorionicity and amnionicity in multi-fetal gestations
  • estimation of gestational age
  • early assessment of certain anatomy structures and thus early diagnosis of certain fetal anomalies
  • knowledge of protocols and requirements from external auditing bodies in the performance of first trimester screening assessments
  • other diagnostic tests and relation to ultrasound, e.g., biochemical analysis and CVS
• Module 2. Second Trimester including:
  • fetal biometry technique of images required and measurements performed
  • fetal anatomy documentation at the morphology scan
  • placenta and liquor assessment
  • multi-fetal gestations
  • maternal complications with features detectable in the fetus
  • other diagnostic tests and relation to ultrasound, e.g., biochemical analysis and amniocentesis
• Module 3. Third Trimester including:
  • fetal growth
  • fetal well being
  • cervical assessment
  • placenta and liquor
  • multi-fetal gestations
  • Doppler studies

Workplace Learning

This subject contains a 18-day Compulsory Workplace Learning component. Students are required to be working in a medical ultrasound department as a trainee sonographer as a condition of enrolment in the medical ultrasound courses. Students may work in public or private practice and are employees of the clinical institution on a paid or supernumerary basis. Students work under the supervision of an Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Accredited Medical Sonographer and are eligible to join the ASAR registry as an Accredited Student Sonographer. As the students' skills progress from novice to advanced beginner, the level of supervision will typically progress from direct supervision to a more general supervision in keeping with the employer's requirements, thus the students become immersed in fully authentic roles of practice.