Browsing by Author "van der Maaten, Joost (6603198691)"

Aims To assess the level of transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) knowledge and skills of young cardiologists. Methods and results A European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) online study using the first fully virtual simulation-based software was conducted in two periods (9–12 December 2021 and 10–13 April 2022). All young cardiologists eligible to participate (<40 years) across the world were invited to participate. After a short survey, each participant completed two tests: a theoretical test to assess TOE knowledge and a practical test using an online TOE simulator to investigate TOE skills. Among 716 young cardiologists from 81 countries, the mean theoretical test score was 56.8 ± 20.9 points, and the mean practical test score was 47.4 ± 7.2 points (/100 points max each), including 18.4 ± 8.7 points for the acquisition test score and 29.0 ± 6.7 points for the anatomy test score (/50 points max each). Acquisition test scores were higher for four-chamber (2.3 ± 1.5 points), two-chamber (2.2 ± 1.4 points) and three-chamber views (2.3 ± 1.4 points) than for other views (all P < 0.001). Prior participation to a TOE simulation-based training session, a higher number of TOE exams performed per week, and EACVI certification for TOE were independently associated with a higher global score (all P < 0.001). Conclusion Online evaluation of young cardiologists around the world showed a relatively low level of TOE skills and knowledge. Prior participation to a TOE simulation-based training session, a higher number of TOE exams performed per week, and the EACVI certification for TOE were independently associated with a higher global score. © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved.

Pediatric cardiac anesthesia is a subspecialty of cardiac and pediatric anesthesiology dedicated to the perioperative care of patients with congenital heart disease. Members of the Congenital and Education Subcommittees of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) agreed on the necessity to develop an EACTAIC pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship curriculum. This manuscript represents a consensus on the composition and the design of the EACTAIC Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Fellowship program. This curriculum provides a basis for the training of future pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists by clearly defining the theoretical and practical requirements for fellows and host centers. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.