Cardiology Training in Brazil and Developed Countries: Some Ideas for Improvement.

Huge variations exist in cardiology training programs across the world. In developing (middle-income) countries, such as Brazil, to find the right balance between training improvements and social and economic conditions of the country may be a difficult task. Adding more training years or different mandatory rotations, for instance, may be costly and not have an immediate direct impact on enhancing patient care or public health.

Can diagnostic and procedural skills required to practice cardiology as a specialist be mastered in 3 years?

Cognitive and procedural skills required of cardiologists have increased in the past 10 years. What is unknown is whether residents consistently meet recommended volumes during training and what their own subjective assessments of their competency are after training. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine whether current training provides residents with opportunities to develop skills to function independently and (2) identify whether residents perceive gaps in their skills.

Electrocardiographic interpretation skills of cardiology residents: are they competent?

Achieving competency at electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation among cardiology subspecialty residents has traditionally focused on interpreting a target number of ECGs during training. However, there is little evidence to support this approach. Further, there are no data documenting the competency of ECG interpretation skills among cardiology residents, who become de facto the gold standard in their practice communities.

American Society of Echocardiography Consensus Statement on the Clinical Applications of Ultrasonic Contrast Agents in Echocardiography.

Unlabelled: ACCREDITATION STATEMENT: The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The ASE designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.trade mark Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Prognostic value of myocardial perfusion contrast echocardiography in patients with suggested or known ischemic heart disease.

Objective: We sought to determine the prognostic value of myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) in patients with known or suggested coronary artery disease compared with technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Background: The prognostic value of SPECT-MPI is well established for patients with coronary artery disease. It is less well defined by MCE.

The assessment of technical and interpretative proficiency in echocardiography.

Objectives: We sought to assess the relationship between traditional measures of proficiency in echocardiography and an objective assessment of technical and interpretative skills.

Background: Determination of competency in echocardiography is currently based on the number of months of training, echocardiograms scanned, and echocardiograms interpreted. It has not been established whether completion of these requirements is a surrogate for competency.

Incremental value of parametric quantitative assessment of myocardial perfusion by triggered Low-Power myocardial contrast echocardiography.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the assessment of myocardial perfusion by myocardial parametric quantification (MPQ) with technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging in humans.

Background: Accurate visual interpretation of myocardial contrast echocardiographic (MCE) images is qualitative and requires considerable experience. Current computer-assisted quantitative perfusion protocols are tedious and lack spatial resolution.

Regimented research: a recipe for success?

Cardiology trainees at the University of Toronto participate annually in a mandatory research competition. Its purpose is to promote creative thinking, help develop a greater understanding of the scientific method and encourage them to pursue research as a career. Since its inception, this research competition's outcomes have not been assessed.

Determination of left ventricular ejection fraction using intravenous contrast and a semiautomated border detection algorithm.

Manual endocardial tracing using Simpson's method (MANUAL SIMP) provides an accurate assessment of left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We have previously demonstrated in patients who are difficult to image: (1) the incremental accuracy of contrast-enhanced power harmonic imaging and MANUAL SIMP in the calculation of LVEF; and (2) the use of intravenous contrast-combined MANUAL SIMP was the most accurate method of LVEF determination. However, MANUAL SIMP is time-consuming, requires accurate planimetry of the endocardial borders, and is difficult to apply routinely in the clinical situation.