Green SM, Klein AJ, Pancholy S, Rao SV, Steinberg D, Lipner R, Marshall J, and Messenger JC. The current state of medical simulation in interventional cardiology:a clinical document from the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention's (SCAI) Simulation Committee. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv.2014 Jan 1;83(1):37-46.Epub 2013 Oct 17.

PMID: 23737458

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To assess the current use and application of simulators in interventional cardiology.

BACKGROUND:
Despite a paucity of data on the efficacy of simulation in medicine, cardiovascular simulation training is now a mandated part of cardiovascular fellowship training. Additionally, simulators have been endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration as a way to teach physicians new and novel procedures. We sought to establish the current use of simulators in cardiovascular medicine.

METHODS:
A systematic review was done of available training programs, and currently existing data regarding simulation training. A panel of experts was convened to review this data and provide recommendations as how simulation should be used in the field of interventional cardiology.

RESULTS:
This document provides a comprehensive review of the current state of simulation and how we as a society must formulate well validated studies to more closely examine and explore how this technology can be further studied and validated.

CONCLUSIONS:
Simulation will likely take on a larger role in cardiovascular training and maintenance of certification, but at the current time lacks a large body of evidence for its use.