Echocardiography training opportunity for neonatal trainees in a tertiary neonatal unit

Background Historically, echocardiography has been provided by the paediatric cardiologist based at the regional Children's Hospital. There is now a growing need for neonatologist to develop bedside echocardiography skills for cardiac assessment and management of the premature and sick neonate. Aim To evaluate the echocardiography training opportunity in a tertiary neonatal unit. Method Information regarding all echocardiograms performed over 3 years (January 2008–December 2010) was collected prospectively. Results Over a period of 3 years, 1398 echocardiograms were performed on 868 babies. This excluded cardiac outpatient echocardiograms. The commonest reason for requesting an echocardiogram was a murmur on examination. 72% of echocardiograms revealed a structural or functional cardiac abnormality needing appropriate treatment, referral to the paediatric cardiologist or follow-up as necessary. Majority of scans were undertaken by neonatal trainees under direct consultant supervision as shown on table 1. Three neonatal trainees have been trained in echocardiography in the last 3 years. Abstract PD.26 Table 1 Number of echocardiograms performed by location and ratio of trainees to consultant Location Number of babies (no. of Echo) Normal echo Performed independently by consultant neonatologist Performed by trainee under direct supervision Neonatal Unit 518 (990) 116 335 (34%) 655 (66%) Postnatal Ward 350 (408) 126 92 (23%) 312 (77%) Conclusion We found that there is ample hands-on training opportunity for career trainee neonatologists to develop their echocardiography skills under direct supervision in tertiary centre. The provision of bedside echocardiography service in a neonatal unit has a high yield for early diagnosis, referral and appropriate therapy. This will improve patient care as well as hopefully reduce the caseload on regional cardiac specialist services.