Training for percutaneous umbilical blood sampling during Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the rates of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling(PUBS) training in United States Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) fellowships.

STUDY

DESIGN

We performed an online survey of MFM fellows in all 3 years of fellowship regarding their PUBS training experience.

RESULTS

Of the 143 surveys, 87 (61%) were completed. The median number of PUBS performed was 1 (range 0-50) with a median of 5 (range 0-50) expected to be performed by fellowship completion. In all, 75 (86%) plan on performing PUBS after completion of fellowship. Of those, 53 (71%) do not expect to perform as many PUBS as they themselves consider the minimum number to achieve competency. There appears to regional variation in training opportunities.

CONCLUSION

Training for PUBS in MFM fellowships appears to be limited in many portions of the country. Most fellows planning on performing PUBS in practice will not have performed the self-described minimum number needed for competence during fellowship.