Table 3.

The performance of the novices including the first postgraduate year (PGY-1) residents and undergraduate year (UGY) students, and PGY-3 emergency medicine residents in pericardiocentesis

Variable	Novices (n = 36)	PGY‡-3 EM‡ residents (n = 12)	p-value
Immediate assessment using a low-fidelity phantom*
Visualization of heart, pericardium, and effusion	4 (4–5)
Visualization of needle	4 (4–5)
Puncture and fluid aspiration	4 (4–5)
Needle steadiness during aspiration	3.5 (3–4.5)
Total score	17 (15–17.5)
Global rating	4 (4–4.5)†	-
Puncture attempt	2 (1–2)
Puncture time (sec)	85 (45–144.5)	-
3-month assessment using a high-fidelity phantom*
Visualization of heart, pericardium, and effusion	5 (3–5)	5 (5)	0.038
Visualization of needle	5 (3–5)	5 (5)	0.504
Puncture and fluid aspiration	5 (3–5)	5 (5)	0.139
Needle steadiness during aspiration	5 (3–5)	5 (5)	0.016
Total score	16 (14–20)	20 (19–20)	0.031
Global rating	3 (3–4)†	5 (5)	0.0002
Puncture attempt	2 (1–2)	1 (1)	0.002
Puncture time (sec)	57 (28–117)	48 (31–103)	0.616

^*presented with median and interquartile ranges

^†p = 0.015

^‡PGY Postgraduate year, EM Emergency medicine