Training activity information
Details
Interpret invasive haemodynamic data for patients presenting with the following pathologies:
- Heart failure
- Valve disease
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pre/post TAVI
- ASD/PFO closure
- CAD
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What is the intended outcome of being able to prepare and maintain good quality haemodynamic and ECG monitoring during a cardiac catheterisation procedure? Why is continuous and accurate monitoring essential?
- What equipment is used for haemodynamic and ECG monitoring in the catheterisation lab? How is the equipment prepared, calibrated, and connected to the patient? What are the common sources of artefact and how can they be identified and resolved? What are the standard ECG leads used in the cath lab?
- What do you anticipate learning about the practical aspects of supporting invasive cardiac procedures? How will you develop your technical skills in setting up and troubleshooting monitoring systems?
- How will you prepare by familiarising yourself with the equipment used in the cath lab and reviewing relevant protocols? Will you observe experienced staff setting up and maintaining monitoring during cases?
In action
- What specific pressure waveforms and parameters are you examining in relation to the patient’s suspected pathology? How are you identifying normal versus abnormal patterns?
- What calculations are you performing or interpreting to assess the severity of the condition?
- How are you integrating the haemodynamic data with other available clinical information (e.g., imaging, patient history)?
- How confident are you in differentiating between haemodynamic profiles of different cardiac conditions? What areas require more conscious effort in your interpretation?
- What challenges are you encountering in interpreting potentially complex or conflicting data?
- Are there alternative interpretations of the data that you should consider? What support or guidance might be needed from a senior colleague?
On action
- What key pressure waveforms and parameters did you observe that were indicative of the patient’s underlying condition? How did you differentiate between normal and abnormal recordings?
- What did you learn about the haemodynamic profiles associated with different cardiac pathologies? Were there any unexpected findings or discrepancies in the data? How did you integrate this data with the patient’s clinical presentation? How does this relate to the role of these procedures within the patient pathway?
- What will you take from this experience to enhance your ability to interpret invasive haemodynamic data? What specific cardiac conditions or haemodynamic parameters require further study? Reviewing case studies and discussing with senior colleagues would be beneficial next steps.
Beyond action
- Have you revisited the haemodynamic tracings and reports you initially analysed for these different pathologies? How has your ability to correlate these findings with the clinical picture improved?
- How has observing cardiac catheterisation procedures and discussing cases with cardiologists enhanced your understanding of the significance of specific haemodynamic parameters in different disease states?
- What key haemodynamic indices (e.g., cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, wedge pressure) do you now focus on when interpreting data for each of these conditions?
- Reflecting on any discrepancies between your initial interpretation and the final diagnosis or management plan, what did you learn from these, and how has it refined your analytical skills?
- How will your growing proficiency in interpreting invasive haemodynamic data contribute to your ability to provide valuable insights during multidisciplinary discussions and inform patient management strategies?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 6 |
Outcome
Interpret haemodynamic data for patients presenting to the cardiac cath lab with a range of conditions, recognising the role of these procedures within the patient pathway, limitations of diagnostics and troubleshooting where required. |
| # 8 |
Outcome
Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and the wider multidisciplinary team. |