High-Fidelity Simulation for Assessing Catheterization-Based Skills Among Trainees.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-30-2026

Publication Title

Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training for coronary angiography has not been widely adopted, and an operator's skillset should be accurately reflected in a simulation-based task. The purpose of this study is to determine whether increasing levels of clinical experience were associated with improved performance and whether trainees' confidence improved with use of a high-fidelity simulator.

METHODS: Physicians with different catheterization experience (internal medicine residents, first- through third-year cardiology fellows, interventional fellows, and attending interventional cardiologists) performed multiple coronary artery catheter engagements on a high-fidelity endovascular simulator. The primary outcome was coronary engagement time (from the ascending aorta to coronary). Trainees completed presimulation and postsimulation surveys assessing confidence in catheter engagement (10-point Likert scale: 1, no confidence; 10, supreme confidence).

RESULTS: Across 240 catheter engagements by 24 physicians, median coronary engagement time was 37 seconds (IQR, 22-64). Engagement times were longer on the right coronary artery (42 seconds [22-70]) than on the left (34 seconds [21-56];

CONCLUSIONS: Using a high-fidelity simulator, increasing operator experience was associated with less time to coronary catheter engagement. Simulation was associated with a significant increase in trainee confidence in performing coronary catheter engagement.

Volume

5

Issue

9

First Page

105499

DOI

10.1016/j.jscai.2026.105499

ISSN

2772-9303

PubMed ID

42769942

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