Table 1.

Four-part skills assessment scoring system

				Score
Practical skill
Introduction of the probe	No	Problematic	Yes	/2
TE long-axis view at 0°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
TE long-axis view at 120°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
TG short-axis view at 0°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
TG short-axis view at 120°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
TE view of the base of the heart at 0°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
TE view of the base of the heart at 90°	Not recorded	Not optimal	Optimal	/2
Total				/14
Evaluation skill
Mitral regurgitation	None	Moderate	Marked to massive	/2
Aortic regurgitation	None	Moderate	Marked to massive	/2
Dilatation of right ventricle	None	Moderate	Marked	/2
Pericardial effusion	None	Non compressive	Compressive	/2
Variations in diameter of superior vena cava	None	Minimal	Large	/2
Total				/10
	Intensivist		Expert
Technical skill
E/A ratio				/2
LV FAC (%)				/2
Aortic VTI (cm)				/2
Pulmonary VTI (cm)				/2
Total				/8
Interpretation skill
LV contractility	Normal	Moderately decreased	Greatly decreased	/2
Hypovolemia	No		Yes	/2
RV failure	No		Yes	/2
Treatment proposed	Wrong or incomplete		Right	/2
Total				/8
Final score/40

TE transesophageal, TG transgastric, FAC fractional area change, LV left ventricle, RV right ventricle, VTI velocity–time integral