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Review
. 2020 Jul 3;24(1):393.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-020-03099-8.

Recommendations for core critical care ultrasound competencies as a part of specialist training in multidisciplinary intensive care: a framework proposed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)

Adrian Wong  1   2 , Laura Galarza  3   4 , Lui Forni  3   5 , Daniel De Backer  6 , Michael Slama  7 , Bernard Cholley  8 , Paul Mayo  9 , Anthony McLean  10 , Antoine Vieillard-Baron  11 , Daniel Lichtenstein  12 , Giovanni Volpicelli  13 , Robert Arntfield  14 , Ignacio Martin-Loeches  3   15 , Gizella Melania Istrate  3 , František Duška  3   16 ; ESICM Critical Care Ultrasound Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Recommendations for core critical care ultrasound competencies as a part of specialist training in multidisciplinary intensive care: a framework proposed by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)

Adrian Wong et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

Critical care ultrasound (CCUS) is an essential component of intensive care practice. Although existing international guidelines have focused on training principles and determining competency in CCUS, few countries have managed to operationalize this guidance into an accessible, well-structured programme for clinicians training in multidisciplinary intensive care. We seek to update and reaffirm appropriate CCUS scope so that it may be integrated into the international Competency-based Training in Intensive Care Medicine. The resulting recommendations offer the most contemporary and evolved set of core CCUS competencies for an intensive care clinician yet described. Importantly, we discuss the rationale for inclusion but also exclusion of competencies listed.

Background/aim: Critical care ultrasound (CCUS) is an essential component of intensive care practice. The purpose of this consensus document is to determine those CCUS competencies that should be a mandatory part of training in multidisciplinary intensive care.

Methods: A three-round Delphi method followed by face-to-face meeting among 32 CCUS experts nominated by the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Agreement of at least 90% of experts was needed in order to enlist a competency as mandatory.

Results: The final list of competencies includes 15 echocardiographic, 5 thoracic, 4 abdominal, deep vein thrombosis diagnosis and central venous access aid.

Conclusion: The resulting recommendations offer the most contemporary and evolved set of core CCUS competencies for an intensive care clinician yet described.

Keywords: Competencies; Core critical care ultrasound; Education in intensive care; Specialist training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart summarizing the steps of the process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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