TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER TRAINING – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How often do you run courses?

How long does the course last?

Will I get to practice on any patients?

How do I pay?

How many people will you train at once?

I don’t have access to a TCD machine. Can you train me?

Can I have certificate of competence?

Can you teach TCD imaging?

I don’t have any experience in ultrasound. Can you still teach me in one day?

Do you offer on-site training?

My application is TCD for sickle cell. Do you teach the protocol for this?

I am coming from abroad. Can I have longer training to maximise the use of my time in the UK?

I already carry out TCD and would like to extend my skills. Can you offer an update?

What applications do you use TCD for?

Where is the course held?

Can you provide accommodation?

How often do you run courses?

We do not run scheduled courses, but arrange training to suit the needs of trainees. We can usually

arrange a date within 1-2 months, depending on the availability of our staff.

How long does the course last?

The typical course lasts a day, starting around 9.30 and finishing around 3.30-4pm. However we

will adjust the timings to suit the trainee and if you need to stay on longer you can do this.

Will I get to practice on any patients?

No. We use healthy volunteers for you to practice on. If your application is vasospasm in

subarachnoid haemorrhage then it may be possible for you to observe part of our regular ward

round, although this will depend on availability of suitable patients. For this you would need to

come on one of our SAH ward round days, which are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

How do I pay?

The easiest ways to pay are by cheque or credit card. If your employer is an NHS Trust and they

wish to pay by bank transfer we can raise an invoice provided you can supply a Purchase Order

number. Overseas applicants may pay by bank transfer in pounds Sterling.

How many people will you train at once?

We can train one, two or three people in one training session. If there are four or more of you we

prefer to do 2 separate training days because otherwise it is difficult to ensure everybody gets

enough hands-on practice, unless we can schedule the course for a date when we can book a larger

room and a second TCD machine.

I don’t have access to a TCD machine. Can you train me?

We strongly advise that you wait until you have access to equipment before you come on the

course. We offer a good grounding in the technique but you will need to practise in your home

institution to become competent. If you are not able to practise afterwards you will lose your

skills.

Can I have certificate of competence?

On conclusion of the one day training we will give you a certificate of attendance. If you require a

certificate of competence you would need to come back a few months later for us to observe and

assess your technique. There would be an additional charge for this. There is no accreditation

available for such courses, so the certificate of competence would not be accredited by any

external body.

Can you teach TCD imaging?

We do not have the equipment to teach TCD imaging (TCDi), which requires a different

technique. Learning TCD will give basic skills that you can apply when you learn TCDi but you

would need someone else to teach you the additional skills.

I don’t have any experience in ultrasound. Can you still teach me in one day?

Yes. We have successfully trained many different people with a range of experience including

those with no experience at all. We teach both the “knack” of performing a TCD scan and the

skills needed to understand what the waveforms are showing.

Do you offer on-site training?

We can do this, but it will usually be more expensive. You would need to provide the TCD

equipment and some healthy volunteers. Trainee numbers would still be limited to three per

machine per trainer because of the need to ensure sufficient hands-on practice.

My application is TCD for sickle cell. Do you teach the protocol for this?

Yes, we are familiar with the “STOP” protocol and can teach you how to do this.

I am coming from abroad. Can I have longer training to maximise the use of my time in the

UK?

Unfortunately not. A single day is sufficient to train in the basics of TCD and we do not have the

facilities to offer you extra practice on subsequent days.

I already carry out TCD and would like to extend my skills. Can you offer an update?

We can offer refresher training and observe your technique to ensure it is optimal. If you wish to

extend your use of TCD to cover additional applications we may be able to offer pointers as to

how to do this.

What applications do you use TCD for?

Our main experience has been in TCD for vasospasm in subarachnoid haemorrhage and in

monitoring the middle cerebral artery in carotid endarterectomy. We also carry out TCD in

patients with sickle cell disease, cerebral vascular disorders, patent foramen ovale (PFO) and

stroke, as well as in research applications. However TCD is a general technique and if you have an

application that is not covered here we will still be able to give you the skill you will need for it.

Where is the course held?

It will be held in Southampton General Hospital.

Can you provide accommodation?

We do not have accommodation available at the hospital but can provide details of guest houses

and hotels within 2-3 miles of the hospital.