Abdominal Aorta & IVC

1. Introduction 100%

Clinical Importance of Aortic & IVC Ultrasound
Role in Emergency, Cardiology, and Vascular Imaging
Indications and Use Cases
Limitations and Pitfalls

2. Anatomy of Abdominal Aorta and IVC 70%

Course of Abdominal Aorta (T12–L4)
Major Branches: Celiac, SMA, Renal, IMA, Bifurcation
IVC Pathway and Tributaries
Relationship with Vertebral Column, Organs

3. Patient Preparation & Scanning Technique 100%

Fasting Recommendations
Patient Positions (Supine, Left Lateral)
Transducer Selection (Low-frequency Curved Array)
Longitudinal and Transverse Views
Doppler and M-mode Utilization

4. Normal Sonographic Appearance 50%

Aortic Diameter and Wall Thickness
Pulsatility and Flow Pattern in Aorta
IVC Respiratory Variation
Vessel Compressibility and Landmarks

5. Aortic and IVC Pathologies

1. Aortic Aneurysms

Fusiform vs. Saccular Aneurysm
Aortic Ectasia
Aneurysm Surveillance Protocols

2. Aortic Dissection

Identification of Intimal Flap
True and False Lumen
Limitations of Ultrasound in Dissection

3. Aortic Thrombus

Mural Thrombus Visualization
Risk of Embolization

4. IVC Abnormalities

IVC Thrombosis
Tumor Invasion (Renal Cell Carcinoma Extension)
IVC Compression Syndromes (e.g., May-Thurner)

5. Congenital Anomalies

Duplicated IVC
Left-sided IVC
Interrupted IVC with Azygos Continuation

6. Interventional and Post-Surgical Imaging 0%

Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) Follow-up
Post-Stent Surveillance
IVC Filter Placement and Monitoring
Post-Surgical Complications (Leaks, Graft Migration)

7. Advanced Modalities and Functional Use 0%

Color and Spectral Doppler for Flow Analysis
M-mode of IVC for Fluid Status Estimation
IVC Collapsibility Index (IVC-CI) in Shock
Role of CT Angiography vs. Ultrasound

8. Case Studies and Quiz Section 0%

Emergency Aortic Aneurysm Case Scenarios
Image-Based Identification Challenges
Doppler Waveform Quizzes
Diagnostic Errors and Learning Pearls