NASPE training requirements for cardiac implantable electronic devices: selection, implantation, and follow-up.

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have become frequently used therapeutic modalities. CIEDs include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), devices for heart failure management (cardiac resynchronization), and implantable hemodynamic monitors. Selection of the appropriate CIED, its implantation, and follow-up care require expertise to achieve optimal therapeutic results. Training requirements in cardiac pacing have previously been defined by the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).1−3 In the initial report of the NASPE Policy Conference Training Requirements for Permanent Pacemaker Selection, Implantation, and Follow-Up, core training requirements in cardiac pacing were defined. NASPE believed that defining core training guidelines was especially important for this discipline because pacemaker and ICD selection, implantation, and follow-up are performed by various medical and surgical specialists, including cardiologists, internists, general surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, and pediatric cardiologists. Because training is obviously quite different for each discipline, and core knowledge and training for pacemaker therapy are potentially varied, it is critical that there be definitions for training.