Simulation in echocardiography: an ever-expanding frontier.

cardiographic simulators in this context is particularly interesting. These simulators provide an opportunity for hands-on experience as a teaching aid to acquire proficiency in this complex clinical technique. The echocardiographic simulators available for training range from online software programs to mannequin-based transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) and transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) simulators. The available options include normal and abnormal cardiac anatomies and functions and recording feedback. There also is a wide variation in the available features, price, and quality/ robustness of the software programs. Therefore, the authors thought it prudent to provide the readership with an overview of the status of simulation in echocardiography. In this article, the authors review the significance of simulation in anesthesia in general and echocardiography in particular. Starting with a brief historical perspective, the challenges associated with the current paradigm of echocardiographic training and the opportunities offered by the echocardiographic simulators as teaching tools are discussed. Taking stock of the major advancements in technology for simulation in echocardiography, the available options are reviewed. The authors also make suggestions on what needs to be done to advance the potential of this unique teaching tool.

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