Scientific Debate Guidelines for Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TOE) Training The use of TOE is rapidly increasing all over Europe and quality assurance of the use is of vital importance for its use and recognition by our colleague surgeons and cardiologists and how it will benefit the patients. Exchange of ideas in an unformal way can be done here. National societies or training centres will be welcome to present views on training in the EACTA News. The Italian Cardiac Anaesthesia Section of The Italian Society of Anaesthesia, Analgesia and Intensive Care has made guidelined for TOE training, May 2000. They will be presented in a somewhat abbreviated form below. Theoretical training and TOE courses To conform to the Guidelines of the Italian Society, a TOE course must fulfill the following requirements The course duration is at least three days and includes at least 20 hours of teaching At least 30% of the teaching time must be dedicated to the imaging (live surgery or taperecorded pictures An expert delegate from the Society should be present either as a member of the Faculty or as an observer. The organiser should be endorsed by the Society. A "Basic" course must include a detailed teaching of the following points: Principles of physics of the ultrasounds - PW/CW Doppler - 2D Doppler - Color Doppler Indications, contraindications and safety issues Nomenclature and general principles of a TOE examination - the 20 basic cross-sectional views (according to the SCA indications) Global and regional left ventricular systolic function Left ventricular diastolic function Mitral valve regurgitation: PW/CW Doppler, 2D and color Doppler Mitral valve stenosis: PW/CW Doppler, 2D Doppler. Transmitral pressure gradient and valvular area assessment. Aortic valve regurgitation: CW Doppler, 2D and color Doppler Acute aortic dissection diagnosis Aortic stenosis: CW and 2D Doppler TOE in Intensive Care Unit Other suggestable issues (mandatory for "Advanced" courses) are: Tricuspid valve examination Pulmonary valve evaluation Severity degree assessment of mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation Severity degree assessment of aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation Prosthetic valve dysfunction Intracardiac masses Practical TOE training After a theoretical course practical training is required. This training will give access to a 1st or a 2nd degree certification. The 1st degree certification is achieved after a practical training of at least 10 working days spent in an adequate centre (see the list at the end of the document), including at least 20 complete TOE examinations, and after a declaration of idoneity released by the Responsible for TOE training in the Centre. The 1st degree certification requrirements are: Knowledge of the basic principles of a TOE examination (CW/PW Doppler, 2D Doppler, color doppler) Ability to perform a complete TOE examination and to recognise the anatomical structures Ability to recognise a normality pattern of anatomy and transvalvular flows Left ventricular systolic function assessment Ability to recognise the presence of aortic and mitral valve regurgitation The 2nd degree certification requrirements are: All that is required for the 1st level Quantitative TOE: severity assessment of valvular stenosis/regurgitation Diastolic function assessment Regional contractility assessment Normal and pathologic flow patterns of valvular prostheses Centres responsible for TOE training are Milan, Brescia, Padova, Mestre, Mercogliano and Teramo by the colleagues, Dr. Erminio Sisillo, Dr. Mario Merli, Dr. Marco Ranucci, Dr. Bruno Amari, Dr. Carlo Sorbara, Dr. Fabio Guarracino, Dr. Luca Lorini and Dr. Gianni Clementi

Deadline for submitting abstracts for EACTA 2012 extended until 22nd January 2012

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18th National Congress of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Anesthesia and Intensive Care Society
12-15th April 2012
Bodrum Turkey
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EACTA NEWS LETTER
October 2011

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EACTA on Linkedin
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EACTA ICU on Facebook
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15th Annual Comprehensive Review & Update on Perioperative Echo
February 6 - 11, 2012
San Diego, CA
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17th Annual Update on Cardiopulmonary Bypass
March 11 - 16, 2012
Aspen/Snowmass Village, CO
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Thoracic Anesthesia Symposium
April 27 - 28, 2012
Boston, MA
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34th Annual Meeting & Workshops
April 28 - May 2, 2012
Boston, MA
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Cardiothoracic Symposium
Iguazu Falls, Argentina
March 19th-21st 2012
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Abstracts from EACTA 2011
Abstracts from EACTA 2011 are published online by the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. Please go to:
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2012 Combined Meeting of the 13th International Congress of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anaesthesia and the New Zealand Anaesthesia Annual Scientific Meeting, to be held 14 - 17 November 2012, Auckland, New Zealand.
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EACTA Perioperative Echocardiography DVDs now available
Buy your copy as an EACTA member for €50.
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JCVA



The Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia (JCVA) is now the official journal of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists (EACTA)......
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ACTA Autumn Meeting
Holywell Park
Loughborough, Leicestershire
16th - 18th November 2011
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