Presented by Dr KWAN Ming Chit Arthur at the Daily Journal Club of ICU, PYNEH, Hong Kong, on 5 June 2009
Paul H. Mayo, MD*, Yannick Beaulieu, MD, Peter Doelken, MD, et al. American College of Chest Physicians/La Société de Réanimation de Langue Française Statement on Competence in Critical Care Ultrasonography. Published online before print February 2009, doi: 10.1378/chest.08-2305. CHEST April 2009 vol. 135 no. 4 1050-1060
Editor’s notes: The article contains useful tables which can be used as a syllabus or checklist to assess competence in various ultrasonography techniques, including echocardiography.
Objective: To define competence in critical care ultrasonography (CCUS).
Design: The statement is sponsored by the Critical Care NetWork of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) in partnership with La Société de Réanimation de Langue Française (SRLF). The ACCP and the SRLF selected a panel of experts to review the field of CCUS and to develop a consensus statement on competence in CCUS.
Results: CCUS may be divided into general CCUS (thoracic, abdominal, and vascular), and echocardiography (basic and advanced). For each component part, the panel defined the specific skills that the intensivist should have to be competent in that aspect of CCUS.
Conclusion: In defining a reasonable minimum standard for CCUS, the statement serves as a guide for the intensivist to follow in achieving proficiency in the field.
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