title: Brief report: Focused transthoracic echocardiography training in a cohort of Canadian anesthesiology residents: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bedside transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is useful for rapid assessment and treatment of hemodynamic disturbances. Transthoracic echocardiography is not standard in Canadian anesthesia training even though undifferentiated hemodynamic disturbances are common in the perioperative setting. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine 1) whether it is feasible to implement a focused bedside TTE curriculum within core anesthesiology training, 2) whether changes could be detected and quantified following the program of study, and 3) whether curriculum implementation might lead to a significant increase in anesthesiology residents' TTE knowledge-base.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-centre cohort pilot investigation, anesthesiology residents at Queen's University received focused bedside TTE training during the winter of 2011. The curriculum consisted of four three-hour sessions with both didactic and practical components. Pre- and post-curriculum examinations were administered, and examination results were compared using non-parametric tests. The primary outcome was the difference in mean pre- and post-curriculum examination scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten participants completed pre- and post-curriculum examinations. Four residents were unable to participate in the curriculum but served as controls. Mean pretest scores (out of 50) were similar between the two groups (participants 23.9 vs controls 23.5; P = 0.83, Mann-Whitney U). Mean scores improved by 13.0 points following intervention but improved by only 1.3 points for controls, (P = 0.009, Mann-Whitney U).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot investigation suggests that implementation of a focused bedside TTE curriculum within anesthesia training is feasible, quantifiable, and effective for increasing anesthesia residents' TTE knowledge-base. This pilot study suggests that further investigation is warranted to determine the impact of this perioperative TTE curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, ON, Canada. tanzolar@kgh.kari.net
authors.forename: Rob C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tanzola
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Wilma M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hopman
authors.forename: Devin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sydor
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arellano
authors.forename: Rene V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Allard
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D016896:Treatment Outcome