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RDGY41330

Academic Year 2024/2025

Abdominal Ultrasound 1 (RDGY41330)

Subject:
Radiography
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Ms Therese Herlihy
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Clinical Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module offers students the opportunity to achieve significant learning outcomes which are highly valued by employers. Committed students can develop their clinical and academic knowledge of abdominal ultrasound and develop a range of generic skills such as information literacy, problem solving, self-evaluation, group and individual skills. An overview of the MSc Ultrasound programme is provided and students are advised on module content, structure and how clinical hours are to conducted, presented and reviewed. The students are tutored on how to search and review literature, how to distinguish between different types of literature and how to evaluate literature pertinent to their studies. This gives the students the skills to critically analyse international, national and local legal, ethical, professional and organisational principles and both qualitative and quantitative data that underpin diagnostic ultrasound practice.
Students registered for this module are offered an opportunity to study the following abdominal ultrasound topics:
• Normal abdominal ultrasound scan; what, when, why? (adult and paediatric)
• Abdominal ultrasound; common pathologies and image appearances
• Focus on liver and hepatobiliary system, including pancreas and basic info on the spleen
• Advanced abdominal pathology; ultrasound appearances and imaging techniques
A synthesis of didactic lectures, in-class quizzes/presentations and resource sessions will stimulate students to investigate a wide variety of issues including: ultrasound anatomy, physiology, and pathology; technology; communication; clinical history and investigations; protocols and guidelines; and ethical and social implications. Students will also have the opportunity to develop clinical skills in abdominal ultrasound in their own clinical departments, linking theory to practice. This module is the firs of three linked modules in abdominal ultrasound. Students must arrange a clinical placement and provide evidence of an agreement to spend a minimum of 406 hours practicing abdominal ultrasound examinations while undertaking these modules. The minimum clinical practice hours for this module are 125 hours.
Students also study the egonomics of ultrasound and safe scanning techniques in order to prevent RSI over the course of their scanning careers. The theory is supported by a practical workshop.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
• perform routine hepatobiliary ultrasound examinations with supervision (to include liver, gallbladder, biliary tree, pancreas
and basic assessment of spleen);
• demonstrate a knowledge of the views and measurements necessary to acquire when performing a routine hepatobiliary
ultrasound;
• commence a portal vein Doppler ultrasound assessment under supervision;
• demonstrate a basic knowledge of the information which should be included in a hepatobiliary scan report;
• recognize hepatbiliary pathology when scanning and image and describe relevant pathology under supervision;
• demonstrate an ability to source and analyse appropriate literature;
• apply current theories of ultrasound, basic sciences and communication to their clinical reasoning;
• justify the contribution of ultrasound to the overall management of the patient;
• work effectively in a group to solve hepatobiliary ultrasound problems;
• select, present and discuss and interesting hepatobiliary case that the student has scanned themselves;
• self-evaluate their performance in the clinical and academic environment;
• discuss social and ethical implications of abdominal ultrasound.


Indicative Module Content:

Students registered for this module are offered an opportunity to study the following vascular ultrasound topics:
• Revision of anatomy and physiology of the abdominal organs
• Normal abdominal ultrasound scan; what, when, why? (adult and paediatric)
• Understanding requests for hepatobiliary ultrasound to include patient presentation, bloods, pharmacology and common
medical histories
• Abdominal ultrasound; common pathologies and image appearances with a focus on liver and hepatobiliary system,
including pancreas and basic info on the spleen. These sessions will also include advanced liver pathology and basic
Doppler assessment of the portal and hepatic veins.
• Liver pathology includes mechanism of disease eg Hep C, NASH, metasteses etc and how to provide the most information to
the clinical team from hepatobiliary ultrasound
• Limitations of ultrasound and the need for further imaging will also be addressed
• The concepts and issues relating to communication, clinical history and clinical investigations, protocols and guidelines, and
ethical and social implications are included in all sessions delivered.
• Students also study the ergonomics of ultrasound and safe scanning techniques to prevent RSI over the course of their
scanning careers. The theory for this is supported by a practical workshop.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Small Group

10
Tutorial

10
Specified Learning Activities

10
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Placement/Work Experience

125
Online Learning

10
Total

235

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The learning methods are carefully selected to develop students’ understanding of abdominal ultrasound. The learning methods include: A synthesis of experiential learning, didactic lectures, online tutorials, resource sessions and Enquiry Based Learning stimulates students to investigate a wide variety of issues including; ultrasound anatomy, physiology, and pathology; technology; communication; clinical history and investigations; protocols and guidelines; and ethical and social implications.
Lectures provided by a multidisciplinary range of experts. Students are encouraged to ask questions and in class quizzes provide on the spot feedback to students and lecturers about the students understanding of the topic being covered. Small group and whole class discussions are stimulated by this integration of clinical and theoretical knowledge.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Students must arrange and complete three months of clinical experience in an ultrasound department, which specialises in abdominal ultrasound prior to commencing this Programme.
Students must provide written evidence of an agreement with a clinical ultrasound department to provide clinical ultrasound experience and supervision throughout the Programme.
This module requires a minimum of 125 hours of clinical practice.
Applicants should be qualified Radiographers with Department of Health and Children approval to practise Radiography in Ireland.
Applicants should have completed one year of general experience in Radiography.
Other Professionals are considered on individual merit, but must be actively scanning in order to undertake modules in the Master of Science (Ultrasound) Programme.

Learning Recommendations:

It is recommended that students spend as much time as possible performing clinical ultrasound examinations while undertaking ultrasound modules. Students will maximise their potential to develop high level clinical and academic skills in ultrasound by exceeding the minimum clinical hours stated for each module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered

Not yet recorded.

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written individual feedback to all students after Case essay. Group/class feedback at end of semester for written examination and portfolio.

Name Role
Dr Mary Moran Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Marie Stanton Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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