Sonographic Diagnostic Efficiency Protocol (SDEP)® was developed by Dr. Eric Lindquist over the course of his 20+ years of extremely busy and intense mobile sonography experience. Mobile sonographers simply cannot afford to miss diagnostic images if they are to maintain a viable mobile ultrasound practice. Mobile sonographers must be extremely efficient in their workflow while continuing to ensure image optimization while scanning. Performing complete sonograms from deep pelvic urethra to gastroesophageal inlet and everything in between, no matter what the animal presentation, provides a complete set of still and video diagnostic images. The SDEP® concepts are also the same for Cardiac SDEP®.

Dr. Lindquist’s evolution of clinical diagnostic sonography workflow, with input from top sonographers worldwide in his community, has amalgamized this clinical workflow into SDEP®.  This ensures the sonographer, whether seasoned or novice, does not miss lesions or views (whether abnormal or not) to create optimal and consistent sonograms. Whether the sonographer doing the scan recognizes the structures or not, the sonographer will be able to generate the images necessary for complete interpretation of all structures in the respective cavity, whether abdominal, cardiac, thyroid, eye, or orthopedic SDEP protocols.

Intrinsic image redundancy is ever present throughout the SDEP® scan. This ensures that the interpreter has multiple views of all structures and organs during a direct scan or remotely through telemedicine. The unique scanning protocol includes more challenging views such as the pelvic urethra, pylorus, portal hepatic hylus, both adrenal glands, and the gastroesophageal inlet. The SDEP® scan, as a video clip-based protocol, allows for 3000+ still image equivalent evaluation of the patient as opposed to 30-50 still images protocols of the past with perhaps a few videos.

SDEP® was developed to streamline the sonographer’s learning curve, imaging consistency, and thorough enhanced exam with an endpoint of obtaining an optimized image set for direct and remote interpretation. This begets a better sonographic experience from beginning to end with more consistent and repeatable findings in all animal body types for abdominal and cardiac presentations. SDEP® also provides complete and consistent images and workflow for the interpreter which provides complete and consistent diagnostic interpretation and reporting.  SDEP® allows for the best diagnostic care for the patient which is what we all strive to achieve that is repeatable and of the image set quality with which our professional names can be proudly associated.