The Focused Study - Duplex Ultrasonography of Abdominal Aortic Endografts

The use of abdominal aorta endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) was introduced in the early 1990s. Although placement of an aortic endograft offers patients a less morbid alternative to surgical repair, this procedure is not without complications. Persistent perfusion of the residual aneurysmal sac via endoleaks may place the patient at risk for aneurysmal enlargement and subsequent rupture. In recent years, duplex ultrasonography has been considered a valued noninvasive diagnostic tool for the ongoing surveillance of abdominal aortic endografts for patency and identification of endoleaks, increasing aneurysmal size, hemodynamic abnormalities, and graft migration and/or kinking. Creating standard protocols for duplex sonographic evaluation provides accurate information vital to the long-term patency of these conduits. This Philips Clinical Education 2-hour course for ultrasound professionals is developed to provide standards of performance protocols and diagnostic criteria for the duplex ultrasonography evaluation of abdominal aortic endografts. The course includes lectures and numerous case studies that enable competent and confident imaging techniques with a systemic and detailed approach to protocol standards.