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What is SDEP®?

The Sonographic Diagnostic Efficiency Protocol (SDEP)®

What is SDEP® Abdomen?

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SDEP® is a 3-second cine loop approach in a 17-point protocol that produces a full abdominal scan, from the deep pelvic urethra to diaphragm and everything in between.

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  • Image shunts

  • Bile duct obstruction

  • Renal and bladder pathology

  • Gastrointestinal obstruction

  • Pancreatitis, masses

  • Peritonitis

  • Mucocele

  • Ascites

  • Pericardial effusion

  • Intrinsic view redundancy

  • Optimized for remote interpretation

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Built-in redundancy of image angles  ensures:

  • Multiple views of every organ and organ system

  • Minimizes the potential for missed lesions.

 

Each step is numbered and referenceable, reinforcing communication between instructor, sonographer and specialist.

The sonogram is performed consistently and repeatedly in both traditional scanning scenarios and emergency situations.

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Manual probe-hand manipulation avoids probe pressure discomfort and optimizes the acoustic window by minimizing the probe-organ distance and compressing tissue for image consistency.

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SDEP abdomen satisfies all ultrasound views described in the ACVR/EVDI consensus statement for abdominal sonography.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36189784/

What is SDEP® Echo?

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SDEP™ is a 3-second cine loop approach in a 7-point protocol to optimize and evaluate every region of the heart from acquired to congenital disease.
 

  • Evaluate functions

  • Velocities

  • Pressures

  • Chamber sizes

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3 separate measurements for left atrial
 

Includes all standard Doppler velocities
 

Ensures visualization of heart base masses through alternative views of right atrium and auricle
 

Each step is numbered and referenceable, reinforcing communication between instructor, sonographer and specialist.
 

The sonogram is performed consistently and repeatedly in both traditional scanning scenarios and emergency situations. 

Why SDEP®?

Veterinary medicine has historically been plagued with inconsistencies related to the lack of a standardized protocol for veterinary ultrasound.

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The Sonographic Diagnostic Efficiency Protocol (SDEP)® solves this problem, and is:

  • Efficient

  • Structured

  • Complete

  • Repeatable

Who Can Learn SDEP®?

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SDEP®  has been taught extensively and successfully for the past five years to veterinarians and technicians and is widely accepted by interpreting specialists.

 

How Long Does an SDEP® U/S Take?

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STANDARD - typically performed in 10-15 minutes of scan time depending on the sonographer and training.

EMERGENCY - With practice and focus a 5-minute complete abdominal SDEP protocol is readily achievable and ideal for the complete abdominal evaluation in emergency settings.

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The SDEP®  protocol is adaptable for speed for emergencies:

  • Diagnosing trauma scope

  • Identifies solid organ injury

  • Ascites

  • Evaluates for localized and retroperitoneal injury

  • Heart mass evaluation

  • Pericardial effusion

 

How Do You Learn SDEP®?


Hands-On Training - 3-Day Wet Labs at our Training Facility


Virtual Training Options:

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  • Digital download of the progression

  • continued learning through educational telemedicine services: offer advice to optimize images, problem-solve difficult cases/patients

  • personalized coaching services, 10-15 minute video evaluating scanning and image acquisition techniques, feedback on probe positioning and pressure

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