• R Breitkreutz, S Uddin, H Steiger, H Ilper, M Steche, F Walcher, G Via, and S Price.
• Clinics of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Hospital of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. raoul.breitkreutz@gmail.com
• Minerva Anestesiol. 2009 May 1;75(5):285-92.

AimWe describe a training programme for non-specialists in focused echocardiography in the periresuscitation setting which represents an entry level in echocardiography training (FEEL) for emergency and critical care medicine physicians.MethodsA prospective observational study based upon the development of a periresuscitation echocardiography training programme developed for novice practitioners (N=15 courses).ResultsThe programme enables novice echocardiographers to be able to perform a focused echocardiogram in an ALS-compliant manner, and interpret the findings in the context of the clinical scenario. It is based on the concept of blended learning, incorporating a combination of e-learning, web-based teaching and reading selected literature, and attendance at a course. The course comprises 4-hours of theory and 4-hours of hands-on training.ConclusionsPeriresuscitation echocardiography, performed safely, within the competence of practitioners in an ALS-compliant manner is a potentially valuable skill to be acquired by physicians caring for the critically ill, regardless of the environment in which they work, or their level of seniority. This newly-developed blended learning periresuscitation echocardiography programme (FEEL) may serve as entry level in peri-resuscitation echocardiography for both emergency physicians and critical care practitioners.

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