162

Abstract

Introduction: Echocardiography is an essential tool for diagnosis in critically ill patients and for hemodynamic monitoring and assessment of provided treatment. Methods: A hands-on, 2-days long course, running 8 hours/day was organized by two physicians trained in echocardiography, one intensivists and one emergency medicine attending. Sixteen practicing clinicians were enrolled: 8 critical care attendings, 6 critical care fellows and 2 mid-levels. The course consisted of 7.25 hours of didactic lectures and 8.75 hands on skill stations with live models. The attendees were trained in obtaining the conventional windows: Parasternal long axis (PLAX), parasternal short axis (PASX), apical four chamber views (4c) and subcostal views, and in identification of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and its variability with breathing. Candidates were trained to measure stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO). Importantly, training included handling the ultrasound (US) machine and “knobology”. Results: All attendees completed the two-day course. Pre- and post-test examinations were done to evaluate knowledge of basic ultrasound physics, applied (clinical) knowledge, and machine set-up. A t-test was used to evaluate the student’s progress. There was a significant increase in the scores after completing the symposium (p = 0.0009). Conclusions: The course showed improvement in clinicians knowledge, probe and machine handling and scanning skills. Echocardiography training for practicing intensivists will facilitate inclusion of echocardiography in critical care fellowship