Colombian Journal of Anestesiology
ISSN 0120-3347
PUENTE-REYES, Carolina et al. Focused critical care echocardiography: training for pediatricians and pediatric intensivists in an intensive care unit. []. , 47, 1, pp.23-31. ISSN 0120-3347. https://doi.org/10.1097/cj9.0000000000000087.
Introduction:
Focused critical care echocardiography (FCCE) has become a necessary competency for physicians working in pediatric intensive care units.
Objective:
To asses a theoretical and practical training program designed to explore skills acquisition for obtaining views and some echocardiographic measurements suggested for FCCE.
Materials and methods:
A 26-hour long theoretical and practical training for pediatricians and pediatric intensivists under the guidance of a pediatric cardiologist. The program included qualitative analysis of the variables pertaining to basic echocardiographic windows, and quantitative analysis of FCCE.
Results:
There were significant differences between having prior echocardiography knowledge, associated with a higher score in the 4-chamber apical window (mean: 9.0; standard deviation [SD]: 1.02; P = 0.021), and better correlation with the pediatric cardiologist regarding left ventricular function measurements (mean: 92.02; SD: 6.3; P = 0.036).
Conclusion:
The program was useful for basic level training in FCCE with an optimal level of acquisition of the main echocardiographic windows and some echocardiographic measurements.
: Echocardiography; Critical Illness; Pediatricians; Intensive Care Units; Physicians.