Hand-carried ultrasound units for point-of-care cardiac examinations.

Several hand-carried ultrasound units have been developed for point-of-care cardiac examination. Limited small comparative studies indicate that these devices are more accurate than physical examination. Though their diagnostic performance is generally inferior to standard echocardiography, there appears to be close agreement for some conditions. Operator training in the performance and interpretation of tests using these ultrasound devices is vitally important. The place of these devices in health care will depend on their compatibility with individual practice, their cost, reimbursement decisions and further technical developments.