Effectiveness of an Advanced Critical Care Echocardiography Course.

BACKGROUND

Advanced critical care echocardiography (CCE) involves comprehensive assessment of cardiac structure and function for frontline critical care applications. This study reports the effectiveness of a 3-day course in advanced CCE.

METHODS

We studied the outcome of 5 consecutive advanced CCE courses delivered between 2013 and 2017. A total number of 239 learners were studied. The course included didactic lectures, image interpretation sessions, and hands-on training with normal individuals as models. Training domains included left ventricular structure and function, right ventricular structure and function, valve function using comprehensive 2-dimensional imaging, and Doppler-based measurements for cardiac pressures and flows. Measurements of course outcome included pre- and postcourse assessment of knowledge, image acquisition, and image interpretation skills. Learners rotated between hands-on training and interpretation sessions. The teacher-to-learner ratio was 1:3 during hands-on training. Interpretation sessions consisted of review of normal and abnormal echocardiographic videos with interactive small groups. Learners completed a video-based knowledge assessment examination before and after completion of the course. Hands-on image acquisition skills were tested at the completion of the course during all the years. For years 2016 and 2017, a precourse hands-on skill test was also performed.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant improvement in knowledge and image interpretation skills in the cohort of 239 learners over 5 years of study period. There was improvement in image acquisition skills over the 2-year period when it was measured pre- and postcourse.

CONCLUSIONS

A 3-day course on advanced CCE resulted in improvement knowledge/image interpretation and hands-on image acquisition skills. Advanced CCE has assumed an important place in hemodynamic monitoring of critically ill patients. A course of similar design may facilitate training of frontline clinicians in advanced CCE.