Revisiting the challenges of training Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows in chorionic villus sampling

More than a decade ago, researchers described a survey of Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows that showed that chorionic villus sampling training was limited for Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows in the United States. Prenatal screening and diagnosis have rapidly evolved since then and include the introduction of noninvasive aneuploidy screening that uses cell-free fetal DNA. Yet, chorionic villus sampling remains the only method available for first-trimester genetic diagnosis.

This study evaluated the chorionic villus sampling training of Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows with respect to availability, competency standards, and education methods.

In November 2015, an electronic survey was sent to Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows and fellowship directors of accredited Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship programs in the United States.

Fifty-eight percent of fellows (179/310) and 46% of program directors (35/76) responded. Ninety-five percent of Maternal Fetal Medicine fellows think that invasive diagnostic testing is essential to their training; 100% of fellows have amniocentesis training; and 65% have chorionic villus sampling training. The median number of chorionic villus sampling procedures that are expected during a fellowship in those who trained was 10. Eighty-eight percent of fellows and 89% of program directors state that chorionic villus sampling training could be better; 89% of fellows and 97% of directors would like access to simulated models. Barriers to training included lack of patients (71%) and lack of proficient attending supervisors (43%).

Since the last survey, >10 years ago, chorionic villus sampling training has declined further. A decrease in the number of procedures that are performed is the leading barrier to this training.