Canadian Internal Medicine Ultrasound (CIMUS) consensus statement: recommendations for mandatory ultrasound competencies for ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, paracentesis, and central venous catheterization

OBJECTIVES: To develop a Canadian Internal Medicine Ultrasound (CIMUS) consensus statement on recommended mandatory point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) competencies for ultrasound-guided thoracentesis, paracentesis, and central venous catheterizations (CVC) for internal medicine physicians. METHODS: The 2022 CIMUS group consists of 27 voting members, with representations from all 17 Canadian academic institutions across 8 provinces. Members voted in 3 rounds on 46 procedural competencies as "mandatory, must include", "optional, could include" or "superfluous, do not include". These 46 competencies included 6 general competencies that apply to all POCUS-guided procedures, 11 competencies for thoracentesis, 10 competencies for paracentesis, and 19 competencies for CVC. RESULTS: In the first round, members reached consensus on 27 competencies (5 general, 6 thoracentesis, 8 paracentesis, 8 CVC). In the second round, 10 competencies (1 general, 2 thoracentesis, 1 paracentesis, 6 CVC) reached consensus. In the third round, 2 additional competencies (1 paracentesis, 1 CVC) reached consensus for being mandatory and 3 as optional (1 thoracentesis and 2 CVC). Overall, a total of 28 competencies reached consensus as mandatory, 3 as optional, while 11 competencies reached consensus as superfluous. Four competencies did not reach consensus for either inclusion or exclusion. CONCLUSIONS: The CIMUS group recommends 28 competencies be considered mandatory and 3 as optional for internal medicine physicians performing POCUS guided thoracentesis, paracentesis, and CVC placement. National curriculum development and implementation efforts should include training these mandatory competencies.