This activity is presented as part of ICUS Grand Rounds

A TUTORIAL

Contrast-enhanced Cardiac Ultrasound
 

A certified one-hour archived webinar for cardiologists, cardiac sonographers, radiologists, and radiologic technologists

This course expires February 1st, 2019

If you want credit, this course must be completed (i.e. view course content (PDF file), pass the posttest, AND print the certificate) by no later than January 31^st, 2019

Please note, after this course has expired, no aspect of the course will be accessible, including the course text (PDF file)

Course Overview
Contrast-enhanced cardiac ultrasound, also called contrast echocardiography, improves the diagnostic applications of non-enhanced echocardiography, including delineation of the left ventricular endocardial borders to better assess ejection fraction and evaluation of blood perfusion and volume.(1) Recent studies have also shown that cardiac echo is also a reliable vehicle for drug delivery for diseases of the cardiovascular system.(2) Contrast echo has a high safety profile compared to contrast enhanced- CT and -MRI and is portable and cost-effective.

1. The  Basics. American Society of Echocardiography website. http://contrastzone.com/ Accessed October 17, 2016.
2. Castle J, Feinstein SB. Drug and Gene Delivery using Sonoporation for Cardiovascular Disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2016;880:331-338.

Educational Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Explain how microbubbles enhance the reflectivity of sonographic images
• Describe patient indications for undergoing contrast echocardiography
• Discuss how cardiac ultrasound contrast agents  better delineate left ventricular function and assess blood flow and perfusion than non-contrast-enhanced echo
• Evaluate the benefits and risks of contrast echo
• Discuss recent studies on how contrast echo is showing promise for drug and gene delivery

ACCME Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and International Center for Postgraduate Medical Education. The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
Physicians
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

SA-CME: This activity meets the criteria for self-assessment toward the purpose of fulfilling requirements in the American Board of Radiology (ABR) Maintenance of Certification Program.

The European Accreditation Council for CME (EACCME®)
The UEMS-EACCME® has mutual recognition agreements with the American Medical Association (AMA) for live events and e-learning materials. For more information go to http://www.uems.eu/uems-activities/accreditation/eaccme.

Radiologic Technologists
This program has been approved by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) for 1.0 hour of ARRT Category A continuing education credit.

How to Participate
There are no fees or prerequisites to participate in this program.

• Click ENROLL NOW, CONTINUE, CONFIRM ORDER, and ACCESS COURSE NOW.
• Click on the blue link. Complete the precourse questions and SUBMIT.
• Click on the blue link again to view the recording.

How to Receive Credit

• Log-in to your account at www.icpme.us
• View the entire educational activity session. At the conclusion of the lecture, close the recording window.
• Return to the course in your account at www.icpme.us.
• From the COURSE HOME page, click the button for POSTTEST and for EVALUATION.
• A passing grade of at least 75% is required to receive credit. You may take the test up to three times.
• Upon receipt of a passing grade, you will be able to print a certificate of credit from your account at www.icpme.us

Faculty

Steven B. Feinstein, MD, FACC, FESC
Professor of Medicine-Cardiology
Academic Cardiologist
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Dr. Feinstein received his medical education at University of Minnesota, followed by a residency in medicine at Michael Reese Medical Center in Chicago and cardiology fellowship at UCLA/ Wadsworth VA in Los Angeles.

Currently Dr. Feinstein holds the title of Professor of Medicine-Cardiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Feinstein is an academic cardiologist, authoring more than 330 scientific publications, and is a frequent journal reviewer and lecturer throughout the United States and Europe. He is an NIH-funded investigator and is internationally recognized for his leadership in the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) field, having developed the first two FDA-approved ultrasound contrast agents.

His clinical practice focuses on preventive cardiology and early diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities.

Dr. Feinstein’s initial work focused on the use of CEUS for cardiac imaging, which subsequently expanded to include CEUS assessment of vasa vasorum and carotid plaque. He also is developing therapeutic applications for CEUS that use ultrasound contrast agents to carry genes to the liver in order to increase the production of de novo HDL. 

The International Contrast Ultrasound Society (ICUS) was founded by Dr. Feinstein 30 years ago. He continues to serve as ICUS Co-President as well as Program Director of the annual international “Bubble Conference” (Advances in Ultrasound). Dr. Feinstein has spoken with the FDA and other government agencies on the superior safety profile of CEUS and its clinical usefulness for detecting heart disease and monitoring therapy.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) requires instructors, planners, managers and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest (COI) they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified COI are thoroughly vetted and resolved according to PIM policy.  The existence or absence of COI for everyone in a position to control content will be disclosed to participants prior to the start of each activity.

The faculty has reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Steven B. Feinstein, MD, FACC, FESC has ownership interest in Sonogene, LLC.

The following planners and managers have reported NO financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Trace Hutchison, PharmD
Linda McLean, MS
Samantha Mattiucci, PharmD, CHCP
Victoria Phoenix, BS           
Jan Schultz, RN, MSN, CHCP
Judi Smelker-Mitchek, MBA, RN, MSN

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Questions
For questions regarding this program, please contact ICPME:
Email: information@icpmed.com
Phone: 607-257-5860 X10

Jointly provided by

               
 

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from GE Healthcare

Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.