| Unit name | Heart and Valve Disease |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCSM0005 |
| 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?
This unit aims to deliver comprehensive coverage of key topics related to common adult cardiac and valve diseases. This will include discussion of normal cardiac function (such as heart contraction, electrophysiology) and moving on to the diagnosis of different cardiac disorders, and integration of pathophysiology with clinical management. Ongoing clinical, pre-clinical and translational research examples will be presented to illustrate the current state of understanding and progress in the treatment of heart and valve diseases. In addition, the methods utilised to assess the effectiveness of newly proposed cardioprotective interventions during cardiac surgery will be outlined.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit covers basic principles of cardiac physiology and function, and you will apply this knowledge to a paediatric context during the following unit, Paediatric Heart Disease. This unit will introduce new concepts such as the intracellular changes that arise when the heart is stopped during surgery, and clinical management of the resulting damage which can develop into heart failure. The requirement for heart surgery is an inevitable consequence of atherosclerosis development, discussed in Coronary Artery Disease I & II. Research techniques to study cardiac function will be explained and demonstrated that can be applied during the Research Project unit (MSc students only).
An overview of content
We will deliver a comprehensive coverage of key topics related to adult cardiac and valve diseases, including diagnosis of disorders and the underlying pathophysiology. You will learn about the current management of heart failure and valve diseases, including pharmacological treatments, cardiac devices, prosthetic valves and surgical/minimally invasive interventions. Ongoing clinical and pre-clinical and translational research examples will be presented to illustrate the current understanding of, and progress in, the treatment of heart and valve diseases. In addition, the intracellular changes involved in ischaemia/reperfusion injury following cardiac surgery or revascularisation following myocardial infarction will be discussed, and methods utilised to assess the effectiveness of newly proposed cardioprotective interventions will be outlined.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
You will acquire knowledge relating to the development and treatment of heart and valve diseases, including some of the current therapies and technologies available as interventions. You will gain insight into these diseases from both the clinical and translational research perspective, and learn about different animal models used to investigate these diseases. Via the Journal Club assessment, you will work collaboratively with your peers and gain skills to critically evaluate literature in the context of this unit, that will be useful for clinical and translational research.
Learning Outcomes
After successfully completing this unit you will be able to:
The core content will be delivered via in-person lectures (campus students) or lecture recordings (online students). Lecture recordings will be available to all students so you can review the lecture material multiple times at your own pace, with the inclusion of captions. Lectures will be supplemented with additional teaching methods such as:
Students will be given formative feedback on all coursework assessments to aid their learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
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. SOCSM0005).
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.
