TOE Accreditation

Why accredit?

Introduction to Accreditation

Proficiency in peri-operative TOE is an essential skill for the Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist, with full accreditation being recommended.

There are three different routes to accreditation recognised for TOE proficiency in UK cardiothoracic anaesthesia and here we aim to compare and contrast the BSE, EACVI and NBE pathways.

With thanks to Dr Stephen Shepherd (St Bart's) and Richard Fisher (King's) for their input and experience.

Resources

In addition to the accreditation resources below, please click the red button for other key papers.

Echo Resources

Overall Pros and cons of TOE Accreditation Paths

For BSE (UK)

For EACVI (EU)

+ Cheapest

+ Shortest written exam

+ Fewest video cases

+ Recertification straightforward

+UK/EU/Aus/NZ recognised

For EACVI (EU)

+ Twice yearly exam

+ Peri-op practice video case logbook guide

+ No viva

+ Route used by most UK consultants so more supervisors available

+ Recertification straightforward

+ Logbook & video cases have perioperative focus

+ Exam can be taken online from home

For NBE (US)

For EACVI (EU)

For NBE (US)

+ Peri-operative focus

+ Recognised in US/UK/Aus/NZ.

+ No video cases, viva or practical exam.

+ Long duration before recertification required

Against BSE

Against EACVI

For NBE (US)

- Practical exam & viva

- Only one written exam per year

- Fewer supervisors available.

- No US recognition

- No perioperative focus in any part

Against EACVI

- More expensive than BSE.

- No US recognition.

- No specific periop focus for exam

- No longer get to use the exam as an excuse for a weekend away in Europe.

Against NBE

Against EACVI

- Expensive!

- Long written exam.

- Only one written exam per year

- More cases required to report/scan

- Smallest number of supervisors available in UK

- Recertification complex - exam required!

Online resources (other than HEre!)

PTE Masters (Tommy Burch)

Paid online site with extensive perioperative TOE video lectures - based on NBE exam but very useful for EACVI - great for the run up to the exam. Some free lectures to get an idea of content.

https://www.ptemasters.com/

South London Intensive Care Echo (SLICE)

Fantastic British website offering lots of echo resources and booking for echo courses across London

https://www.criticalcareecho.com

Anesthesia Hub

US-based website with lots of practical echo and exam resources

https://www.anesthesiahub.com/echoboards

Toronto TEE Simulator

Virtual TEE simulator including app for tablets - some other great resources for getting up to speed with echo too

http://pie.med.utoronto.ca/TEE/

e-Echocardiography

Another US-based site offering a paid online course as well as some free resources

https://e-echocardiography.com/root/index.php

Resuscitative TEE

Great worldwide collaborative focusing on the use of TEE in resuscitation - really nice website with open access lectures.

https://www.resuscitativetee.com

TOE Accreditation

Why accredit?

Introduction to Accreditation

Resources

The contenders

BSE (UK)

EACVI (Europe)

NBE (USA)

NBE (USA)

PDF Viewer

Overall Pros and cons of TOE Accreditation Paths

For BSE (UK)

For EACVI (EU)

For EACVI (EU)

For EACVI (EU)

For EACVI (EU)

For EACVI (EU)

For NBE (US)

For EACVI (EU)

For NBE (US)

Against BSE

Against EACVI

For NBE (US)

Against EACVI

Against EACVI

Against EACVI

Against NBE

Against EACVI

Against EACVI

Smashing the video cases