Simulation Training in Cardiovascular Medicine—The Past, Present, and Future: An Updated Comprehensive Overview

Simulation is an essential component of training in multiple fields, including aviation, and has gained particular interest in medical education, especially within cardiovascular medicine. Societies and institutions have supported the incorporation of simulators in medical education. However, its use has been limited chiefly to individual efforts without clear guidelines on best practices. This article highlights key events in healthcare simulation history and its development. We also discuss recent studies on the effectiveness of simulation training in different cardiovascular disciplines, such as interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging, cardiac electrophysiology, and pericardiocentesis. We review the challenges of simulation training and provide key recommendations to improve the utilization of simulators in training programs, in addition to other roles of simulators in healthcare, from quality improvement initiatives to personalized medicine through preprocedural planning.