Acceleration of the learning curve for mastering basic critical care echocardiography using computerized simulation.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of computerized transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) simulation on the learning curve to achieve competency in basic critical care echocardiography (CCE). METHODS: In this prospective bicenter study, noncardiologist residents novice in ultrasound followed either a previously validated training program with adjunctive computerized simulation on a mannequin (two 3 h-sessions; Vimedix simulator, CAE Healthcare) (interventional group; n = 12) or solely the same training program (control group; n = 12). All trainees from the same institution were assigned to the same study group to avoid confusion bias. Each trainee was evaluated after 1 (M1), 3 (M3) and 6 (M6) months of training using our previously validated scoring system. Competency was defined by a score ≥ 90% of the maximal value. RESULTS: The 24 trainees performed 965 TTE in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise during their 6-month rotation. Skills assessments relied on 156 TTE performed in 106 patients (mean age 53 ± 14 years; mean Simplified Acute Physiologic Score 2: 55 ± 19; 79% ventilated). When compared to the control group, trainees of the interventional group obtained a significantly higher mean skills assessment score at M1 (41.5 ± 4.9 vs. 32.3 ± 3.7: P = 0.0004) and M3 (45.8 ± 2.8 vs. 42.3 ± 3.7: P = 0.0223), but not at M6 (49.7 ± 1.2 vs. 50.0 ± 2.7: P = 0.6410), due to higher practical and technical skills scores. Trainees of the control group required significantly more supervised TTE to obtain competency than their counterparts (36 ± 7 vs. 30 ± 9: p = 0.0145). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive computerized simulation accelerates the learning curve of basic CCE in improving practical and technical skills and reduces the number of TTE examinations required to reach competency.