Educational Experience of Interventional Cardiology Fellows in the United States and Canada Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.jcin.2022.11.034 Web of Science: 001016618700001

Cited authors

  • Simsek B, Kostantinis S, Karacsonyi J, Hakeem A, Prasad A, Prasad A, Bortnick AE, Elbarouni B, Jneid H, Abbott JD, Azzalini L, Kohl LP, Gossl M, Patel RAG, Allana S, Nazif TM, Baber U, Mastrodemos OC, Chami T, Mahowald M, Rempakos A, Rangan BV, Sandoval Y, Brilakis ES

Abstract

  • BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic and iodinated contrast shortage may have affected interventional cardiology (IC) fellowship training.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the educational experience of first-year IC fellows in the United States and Canada. METHODS A 59-question online survey was conducted among 2021-2022 first-year IC fellows in the United States and Canada. RESULTS Of the 360 IC fellows invited to participate, 111 (31%) responded; 95% were from the United States, and 79% were men. Participants were mostly from university programs (70%), spent 61 to 70 hours/week in the hospital, and had an annual percutaneous coronary intervention case number of <200 (5%), 200 to 249 (8%), 250 to 349 (33%), 350 to 499 (39%), 500 to 699 (12%), or $700 (3%). For femoral access, a micropuncture needle was used regularly by 89% and ultrasound-guided puncture by 81%, and 43% used vascular closure devices in most cases (>80%). Intra-vascular ultrasound was performed and interpreted very comfortably by 62% and optical coherence tomography (OCT) by 32%, and 20% did not have access to OCT. Approximately one-third felt very comfortable performing various atherectomy techniques. Covered stents, fat embolization, and coil embolization were used very comfortably by 14%, 4%, and 3%, respectively. Embolic protection devices were used very comfortably by 11% to 24% of IC fellows. Almost one-quarter of fellows (24%) were warned about their high radiation exposure. Eighty-four percent considered IC fellowship somewhat or very stressful, and 16% reported inadequate psychological support. CONCLUSIONS This survey highlights opportunities for improvement with regard to the use of intravascular imaging, atherectomy techniques, complication prevention and management strategies, radiation awareness and mitigation, and psychological support. (J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2023;16:247-257)& COPY; 2023 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2023

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1936-8798

Number of pages

  • 11

Start page

  • 247

End page

  • 257

Volume

  • 16

Issue

  • 3