AIMS: Pocket-size imaging devices (PSID) are now available; their potential role in a hospital environment has been investigated but still remains undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the effectiveness of PSID in 92 patients referred for bedside transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Patients were included where there was a focused clinical question: quantification of left ventricular function (LVF); presence of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA); evidence of pericardial effusion, exclusion of significant valve pathology. Each patient underwent an echocardiography evaluation using PSID and TTE. In 83 patients [k = 90%, 95% CI (82.2-95.4)], it was possible to answer the clinical question by PSID examination alone. There was agreement between the findings of PSID and TTE in 86 cases [79%; k = 47%, 95% CI (12.8-82.0)], in three cases, the clinical question was not answered by both modalities. When the clinical question was focused on LVF, the agreement was excellent [k = 96%, 95% CI (95.3-97.9)], as was the agreement in the detection of RWMA [k = 94.57%, 95% CI (82.4-95.1)]. There was also good concordance in the detection of valve pathology and pericardial effusion. Using PSID, the reduction in the scanning and reporting time was 66%. The cost-effectiveness analysis produced very favourable results: with PSE, we obtained an overall cost saving per scan of 76%, compared with TTE. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that PSID can provide a valuable alternative to TTE in the presence of focused clinical questions and can provide an efficient way of delivering a ward-based transthoracic echo service.
AIMS: Pocket-size imaging devices (PSID) are now available; their potential role in a hospital environment has been investigated but still remains undefined. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the effectiveness of PSID in 92 patients referred for bedside transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). Patients were included where there was a focused clinical question: quantification of left ventricular function (LVF); presence of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA); evidence of pericardial effusion, exclusion of significant valve pathology. Each patient underwent an echocardiography evaluation using PSID and TTE. In 83 patients [k = 90%, 95% CI (82.2-95.4)], it was possible to answer the clinical question by PSID examination alone. There was agreement between the findings of PSID and TTE in 86 cases [79%; k = 47%, 95% CI (12.8-82.0)], in three cases, the clinical question was not answered by both modalities. When the clinical question was focused on LVF, the agreement was excellent [k = 96%, 95% CI (95.3-97.9)], as was the agreement in the detection of RWMA [k = 94.57%, 95% CI (82.4-95.1)]. There was also good concordance in the detection of valve pathology and pericardial effusion. Using PSID, the reduction in the scanning and reporting time was 66%. The cost-effectiveness analysis produced very favourable results: with PSE, we obtained an overall cost saving per scan of 76%, compared with TTE. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that PSID can provide a valuable alternative to TTE in the presence of focused clinical questions and can provide an efficient way of delivering a ward-based transthoracic echo service.
Authors: Michael W Cullen; Lori A Blauwet; Ori M Vatury; Sharon L Mulvagh; Thomas R Behrenbeck; Christopher G Scott; Patricia A Pellikka Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 2014-03-29 Impact factor: 7.616
Authors: Benjamin Acheampong; David A Parra; Muktar H Aliyu; Troy D Moon; Jonathan H Soslow Journal: Echocardiography Date: 2019-12-27 Impact factor: 1.724