Echocardiography Training Pathway for Intensive Care Trainees: A Comparison with International Guidelines

General ultrasonography and echocardiography are widely regarded as useful diagnostic tools in intensive care. Structured education has not been incorporated into many intensive care curriculums worldwide. A certified training program is recommended. The aim of this article is to outline the current training framework in the Republic of Ireland for critical care echocardiography and compare it to the most recent international guidance.

The aim of this article is to outline the current training framework in the Republic of Ireland for critical care echocardiography and compare it to the most recent international guidance.

A literature review was performed yielding 13 eligible articles, along with several websites.

The international guidance relating to basic and advanced accreditation in critical care echocardiography is detailed. This is compared to the options of accreditation available in the Republic of Ireland. These include predominantly FUSIC, BSE ACCE, EACVI TTE, and EDEC.

Formal teaching has not been incorporated into many intensive care curriculums throughout the world. Trainees face challenges in obtaining competency. In the Republic of Ireland, the options of accreditation meet the ESICM recommendations in terms of TTE accreditation. However, only one option incorporates TOE accreditation (EDEC). Training courses are available in the Republic of Ireland. However, challenges still exist. It is felt that Irish ICUs should continue to provide training programs under qualified supervision at a local level. Established local programs along with national courses would improve training and accessibility. In the future, fellowships in critical care echocardiography may be available in the Republic of Ireland, similar to those in the United Kingdom and Australia.