CACTUS® Cardiac

The Children’s Acute Ultrasound Cardiac module (CACTUS®): is of relevance to all specialities working with children and is designed to be a very basic introduction to bedside cardiac PoCUS. *The main requirement for accreditation at this level is to identify left ventricular function, pericardial effusions and a basic comment on volume status (recognising the over distended LV).

CACTUS ® Cardiac is supported by Trainers who oversee both logbook scans and the triggered assessment. This is different to FUSIC ® Heart, where there is a separate Mentor & Supervisor, due to the advanced skills covered within the mentioned accreditation. The latter approach will be replicated in more advanced CACTUS® Cardiac modules which are to be released in due course.

Getting Started

Download the CACTUS® Cardiac Training Pack and CACTUS® Assessment Pack to understand the requirements*
Identify an approved CACTUS® Cardiac Trainer** in your unit to oversee your accreditation. If you cannot find a local Trainer** please contact our Learning Team on who can help you find one
Register by adding CACTUS® Cardiac to your basket
PCCS members please contact PCCS for your discount code before proceeding with registration
Complete the mandatory e-learning, accessible via our CACTUS® Portal and attend an approved CACTUS® face-to-face (F2F) course. Note: you do not need to attend another F2F course if you have already completed an approved CACTUS® Course or FUSIC® Heart course within the last 3 years.
Perform the appropriate supervised scans overseen by your approved CACTUS® Cardiac Trainer followed by the required number of unsupervised scans, ensuring that all are documented in your logbook
Have your logbook assessed by your Trainer** who confirms that you have the necessary competencies
Pass a triggered assessment with your Trainer**
Submit your assessment documents, including the Summary of Training record, via the CACTUS® Portal

** A CACTUS® Cardiac trainer can be from a FUSIC® Heart mentor OR supervisor, a paediatrician with expertise in cardiology, a paediatric cardiologist, an echocardiographer or a paediatric anaesthetist/intensivist with expertise in cardiology/echocardiography.

Accreditation (first to last component) must be completed within 24 months. Logbook collection (first to last scan) must be completed within 12 months.

Criteria for registering for CACTUS® Cardiac accreditation are as follows: