Building Blocks of Structural Intervention: A Novel Modular Paradigm for Procedural Training

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Education
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Procedural training in structural heart disease lacks standardization.
• Rapid evolution of structural heart disease interventions necessitates adaptive training methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel modular approach to procedural training in structural heart disease.
• To establish a framework for teaching and assessing interventional skills using a building block methodology.

Main Methods:

• Deconstructing structural heart procedures into ten key building blocks.
• Integrating cognitive skills, device-specific training, and anatomical understanding.
• Focusing on critical components like vascular access, intracardiac navigation, and 3D relational anatomy.

Main Results:

• Identified ten core building blocks for structural heart disease procedures.
• Demonstrated how these blocks facilitate planning, implementation, and adaptation to new procedures.
• Highlighted the importance of device-specific training and cross-discipline collaboration.

Conclusions:

• The modular building block approach offers a standardized and effective method for training and assessing structural heart disease interventional skills.
• This paradigm enhances competency, particularly for less common procedures, and supports the development of new interventional techniques.