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Organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories and governance of echocardiography services and training in Europe : current status, disparities, and potential solutions. A survey from the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) imaging working group

Cantinotti, Massimiliano ; Voges, Inga ; Miller, Owen ; Raimondi, Francesca ; Grotenhuis, Heynric ; Bharucha, Tara ; Garrido, Almudena Ortiz ; Valsangiacomo, Emanuela ; Roest, Arno and Sunnegårdh, Jan , et al. (2024) In Cardiology in the Young 34(5). p.1100-1108
Abstract

Background: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Methods: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs. Results: Respondents from forty-three centres (45%) in 22 countries completed the survey. Thirty-six centres (84%) have a dedicated paediatric echocardiography laboratory, only five... (More)

Background: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Methods: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs. Results: Respondents from forty-three centres (45%) in 22 countries completed the survey. Thirty-six centres (84%) have a dedicated paediatric echocardiography laboratory, only five (12%) of which reported they were European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging accredited. The median number of echocardiography rooms was three (range 1-12), and echocardiography machines was four (range 1-12). Only half of all the centres have dedicated imaging physiologists and/or nursing staff, while the majority (79%) have specialist imaging cardiologist(s). The median (range) duration of time for a new examination was 45 (20-60) minutes, and for repeat examination was 20 (5-30) minutes. More than half of respondents (58%) have dedicated time for reporting. An organised training program was present in most centres (78%), 44% undertake quality assurance, and 79% perform research. Guidelines for performing echocardiography were available in 32 centres (74%). Conclusion: Facilities, staffing levels, study times, standards in teaching/training, and quality assurance vary widely across paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Greater support and investment to facilitate improvements in staffing levels, equipment, and governance would potentially improve European paediatric echocardiography laboratories.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
echocardiography, education, governance, laboratories, paediatric cardiology, training
in
Cardiology in the Young
volume
34
issue
5
pages
1100 - 1108
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85186941360
  • pmid:38439642
ISSN
1047-9511
DOI
10.1017/S1047951124000131
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s).
id
1d9e02fa-3f14-4407-ad5a-4e481cc05dc3
date added to LUP
2026-03-04 19:06:38
date last changed
2026-05-15 05:55:27
@article{1d9e02fa-3f14-4407-ad5a-4e481cc05dc3,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Methods: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs. Results: Respondents from forty-three centres (45%) in 22 countries completed the survey. Thirty-six centres (84%) have a dedicated paediatric echocardiography laboratory, only five (12%) of which reported they were European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging accredited. The median number of echocardiography rooms was three (range 1-12), and echocardiography machines was four (range 1-12). Only half of all the centres have dedicated imaging physiologists and/or nursing staff, while the majority (79%) have specialist imaging cardiologist(s). The median (range) duration of time for a new examination was 45 (20-60) minutes, and for repeat examination was 20 (5-30) minutes. More than half of respondents (58%) have dedicated time for reporting. An organised training program was present in most centres (78%), 44% undertake quality assurance, and 79% perform research. Guidelines for performing echocardiography were available in 32 centres (74%). Conclusion: Facilities, staffing levels, study times, standards in teaching/training, and quality assurance vary widely across paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Greater support and investment to facilitate improvements in staffing levels, equipment, and governance would potentially improve European paediatric echocardiography laboratories.</p>}},
  author       = {{Cantinotti, Massimiliano and Voges, Inga and Miller, Owen and Raimondi, Francesca and Grotenhuis, Heynric and Bharucha, Tara and Garrido, Almudena Ortiz and Valsangiacomo, Emanuela and Roest, Arno and Sunnegårdh, Jan and Salaets, Thomas and Brun, Henrik and Khraiche, Diala and Jossif, Antonis and Schokking, Michiel and Sabate-Rotes, Anna and Meyer-Szary, Jaroslaw and Deri, Antigoni and Koopman, Laurens and Herberg, Ulrike and Sarvaas, Gideon Du Marchie and Leskinen, Markku and Tchana, Bertrand and Harkel, Arend D.J.Ten and Ödemis, Ender and Morrison, Louise and Steimetz, Micheal and Laser, Kai Thorsten and Doros, Gabriela and Bellshan-Revell, Hannah and Muntean, Iolanda and Anagostopoulou, Andriana and Alpman, Maria Sjoborg and Hunter, Lindsey and Ojala, Tiina and Bhat, Misha and Olejnik, Peter and Wacker, Julie and Bonello, Beatrice and Ramcharan, Tristan and Greil, Gerald and Marek, Jan and Disalvo, Giovanni and Mcmahon, Colin J.}},
  issn         = {{1047-9511}},
  keywords     = {{echocardiography; education; governance; laboratories; paediatric cardiology; training}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{1100--1108}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Cardiology in the Young}},
  title        = {{Organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories and governance of echocardiography services and training in Europe : current status, disparities, and potential solutions. A survey from the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) imaging working group}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1047951124000131}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1047951124000131}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}