"This book is the second in the series, Introduction to Vascular Technology, edited by David S. Sumner, MD. It is a welcome addition to the vascular technology literature because it fills a major void in the educational resources for the novice. Donald P. Ridgway draws upon his experience as a faculty member in the Vascular Technology Program at Grossmont College to produce a “how-to” manual for the beginner. A teacher and communicator par excellence, he uses an informal and often humorous writing style that is both engaging and stress reducing.
This 340-page soft bound text delivers what it promises, a guide to scanning for the beginner. The first section is filled with information that needs to be learned prior to scanning: terminology, scan planes, image and body orientation, anatomy, and instrumentation principles and setup. It also establishes realistic guidelines regarding learning curves and recognizes the inherent frustrations of tackling a new skill. The second section is the largest and deals with the mechanics of scanning. The author directs the reader through hands-on, interactive exercises that reinforce learning by doing. This section begins with an important, but often neglected, step in the learning process, visualizing the anatomy prior to viewing the actual sonographic images. Here the reader is asked to draw the ultrasound anatomy presentation prior to imaging. Other exercises involve holding the probe and practicing the four fundamental scanning maneuvers. With these skills in hand, the author moves on to a systematic survey of the vascular system, including the carotid arteries, lower extremity veins, lower extremity arteries, upper extremity arteries and veins, and abdominal vessels. The reader is asked to perform these exams while using the text as an instruction manual. The author appropriately places the discussion of color flow scanning at the end of section two. This recognizes that color flow is deceptively simple and in the hands of the inexperienced can be the source of many errors. The third and final section contains sample protocols with actual case study narrations and a short list of selected readings.
This book takes a systematic, step-wise approach to acquiring the manual skills and fundamental concepts required to become a capable scanning technician. The author cautions the reader that these mechanics must be accompanied by broad-based knowledge and extensive experience to develop the cognitive skills and judgment required to become a competent vascular technologist.
This text is an indispensable workbook for the novice, preceptor and educator containing much information that has not been available previously in a single resource. Physicians and scientists possessing theoretical knowledge without scanning experience will value this text as a practical, technical resource. In a field where the vast majority of technologists are trained during employment, the demand for this text will be great and the reader will not be disappointed."—Cynthia B. Burnham |