• Thomas W Carver.
• Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Electronic address: tcarver@mcw.edu.
• J Surg Educ. 2018 Sep 1; 75 (5): 1250-1255.

ObjectiveSurgical critical care (SCC) fellows are expected to receive training in critical care ultrasound (CCUS) but training is sporadic and there is no standardized curriculum to guide educators. Previous studies show wide variation in CCUS training during fellowship across specialties but SCC has been underrepresented. This study was performed to assess SCC program directors' views regarding CCUS during fellowship training.DesignAdult SCC program directors were surveyed regarding the role of CCUS in fellowship training. This survey assessed how CCUS training was performed, perceived barriers to education, and importance of specific studies. Survey responses were measured using a Likert scale ranging from 5 (strongly agree) to 1 (strongly disagree).SettingWeb-based survey.ParticipantsAdult Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program Directors.ResultsA total 67 of 108 (62%) SCC program directors responded to the survey. Over 75% felt that CCUS during training should be a priority. Fifteen (24.6%) programs required a specific number of ultrasounds to be performed. Five programs (7.5%) provided no CCUS training at all. Over 75% felt that training in FAST, transthoracic echocardiography, inferior vena cava assessment, and US for procedures (line placement, thoracentesis, and paracentesis) were either important or very important but experience in transesophageal echocardiography, assessment for deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary US were not important. Lack of time (63.8%) and trained faculty (51.2%) were the most cited barriers to training.ConclusionsThere is a wide variation in how CCUS training is performed during SCC fellowship. SCC programs will need trained faculty, appropriate time allocation, and implementation of a standardized curriculum to provide consistent and high-quality CCUS education during fellowship.Copyright © 2018 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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