Utility of a transesophageal echocardiographic simulator as a teaching tool.

Objective: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that simulator-based transesophageal echocardiographic training was a more effective method of training anesthesia residents with no prior experience in echocardiography as compared with conventional methods of training (books, articles, and web-based resources).

Study Design: A prospective randomized study.

Setting: An academic medical center (teaching hospital).