| Unit name | Heart and Valve Disease |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCSM0012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Bond |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Bristol Medical School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
As a perfusionist you will encounter patients with heart and valve disease, therefore it is important for you to understand the pathobiology of these disorders and their clinical consequences. This unit provides you with comprehensive coverage of key topics related to adult cardiac and valve disease, including diagnosis of disorders and integration of pathophysiology with clinical management. It will enable you to gain an understanding of several of the diseases and treatment strategies of many of the patients you will manage on cardiopulmonary bypass, through discussion of pharmacological, surgical and mechanical circulatory support interventions. Importantly, you will gain further insight into the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on the heart and developments in cardio-protection methods, advancing your knowledge in this particularly relevant area.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit widens your knowledge and understanding of the main adult cardiac diseases. It follows the Cardiovascular Disease unit, giving you a broader perspective of disorders (e.g. heart failure) affecting your patients. Information in this unit builds upon subjects introduced in Adult Cardiopulmonary Bypass Principles and Practice, relating to cardio-protection and the role of cardioplegia, to give you a deeper understanding of this important topic. It is followed by a complementary unit that is concerned with paediatric heart disease.
An overview of content
Topics covered include: the clinical problem of heart and valve disease, arrhythmia and heart failure; pathobiology; epidemiology; patient assessment; pharmacological, surgical and mechanical circulatory support treatments. The impact of management of cardiopulmonary bypass on treatment of patients with heart and valve disease will also be included. Ongoing pre-clinical and translational research examples will be presented to illustrate the current understanding and progress in the treatment of these clinical problems. Current research to assess the effectiveness of newly proposed approaches will be outlined, with a focus on cardio-protection.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will have a broader and deeper understanding of the conditions of your patients therefore enabling you to better manage them on cardiopulmonary bypass. You will have increased knowledge of the surgical strategies used to treat your patients allowing you to work with the surgical team more confidently and effectively.
Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the causes, progression and management of adult heart and valve disease and heart failure.
2. Evaluate the ongoing pre-clinical and translational research related to heart and valve disease and heart failure.
3. Assess recent advances in technology for the treatment of heart and valve disease.
4. Critically discuss the management of cardiopulmonary bypass in relation to heart and valve disease.
You will primarily learn through interactive in person lectures, where core information is delivered. These sessions will be supplemented with hands-on practical demonstrations to consolidate learning. Case-based discussions, including with patients and group simulation sessions will help you understand and apply the theory in the context of patient management. There will be opportunities to ask questions and discuss topics in detail. MCQs encourage you to review core information from across the unit and test the breadth of your knowledge to provide a foundation for your in-depth summative work. The summative case presentation requires synthesis of information across the programme and will help you link clinical presentation, pathobiology and appropriate treatment strategies together. You will be given formative feedback on all coursework assessments to aid learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The formative and summative tasks completed in year 1 units help to prepare you for the tasks in this unit. A tutorial will provide guidance and discussion of an example of a timed assessment to help prepare for the summative task.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
If you do not pass the unit, you will normally be given the opportunity to take a reassessment as per the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. Decisions on the award of reassessment will normally be taken after all taught units of the year have been completed. Reassessment will normally be in a similar format to the original assessment that has been failed.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCSM0012).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
