Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Surveillance Following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the standard of care for many patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. This lecture will address how contrast-enhanced ultrasound is an effective diagnostic tool for surveillance and follow-up to detect and classify endoleaks following EVAR. 

Original Release Date: December 2020
Review Date: October 2021, February 2022, February 2023; September 2024

Target Audience

Cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, echocardiography, respiratory therapists (direct delivery), pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and noninvasive vascular testing specialists and sonographers. 

Learning Objectives

  • Explain the fundamental physics of contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
  • Apply proper use of contrast enhancement agents for EVAR.
  • Describe the pathophysiology of EVAR endoleaks.
  • Detect EVAR endoleaks on contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
  • Characterize enhancement of different types of EVAR endoleaks.
Additional information
Bibliography: 
  • Ashton, H. A., Buxton, M. J., Day, N. E., Kim, L. G., Marteau, T. M., Scott, R. A., ... & Walker, N. M. (2002). Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study Group The Multicentre Aneurysm Screening Study (MASS) into the effect of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening on mortality in men: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet, 360(9345), 1531-1539. 
  • Gilabert, R., Buñesch, L., Real, M. I., García-Criado, Á., Burrel, M., Ayuso, J. R., ... & Riambau, V. (2012). Evaluation of abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular repair: prospective validation of contrast-enhanced US with a second-generation US contrast agent. Radiology, 264(1), 269-277. 
  • England, A., & Mc Williams, R. (2013). Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The Ulster medical journal, 82(1), 3. 
  • Gurtler, V.M., Sommer, W.H., Meimarakis, G., Kopp, R., Weidenhagen, R., Reiser, M.F., & Clevert, D.A. (2013). A comparison between contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging and multislice computed tomography in detecting and classifying endoleaks in the follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair. Journal of vascular surgery, 58(2), 340-345. 
Course Summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ABS MOC II
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Pharmacy
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Respiratory Therapy
Course opens: 
09/24/2024
Course expires: 
08/31/2027

Muhammad E. Hasan, MBBCh, RPVI
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Medical Education Manager
Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute
Miami, Florida

Muhammad Hasan, MBBCh, RPVI, faculty and planner of this educational activity, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* to disclose and has indicated that the presentation or discussion will include off-label or unapproved product usage. 

Conference Directors

Elliott J. Elias, M.D., disclosed that he is a member of the speakers’ bureau for Abbott Laboratories. 

Brian J. Schiro, M.D., disclosed that he receives grant/research support from Medtronic and that he is a member of the speakers’ bureau for Penumbra and Sirtex. 

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Non-faculty contributors and others involved in the planning, development, and editing/review of the content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*. 

*Ineligible companies -- Companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer

Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.              

Baptist Health South Florida designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Board of Surgery - Maintenance of Certification (MOC) - Accredited CME - Vascular Surgery

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

Your participation information will be shared with specialty boards through the ACCME's PARS reporting system. Successful completion of a course examination is required. Submissions are recorded in approximately 48 hours. You will receive an email when your credits have been processed.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ABS MOC II
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 General certificate of attendance
  • 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Pharmacy
  • 1.00 Florida Board of Respiratory Therapy
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