Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
-
J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Apr 2005
Comparative StudyUse of a hand-carried ultrasound device by critical care physicians for the diagnosis of pericardial effusions, decreased cardiac function, and left ventricular enlargement in pediatric patients.
Prompt diagnosis of children with suggested cardiac disease in the acute care setting is critical for initiation of life-saving therapy. We hypothesized that pediatric critical care physicians could perform limited portable echocardiography in children. Portable hand-carried cardiac ultrasound units with 2.5-MHz phased-array transducers were used (Optigo, Philips Medical Systems, Andover, Mass). ⋯ Left ventricular size was correctly determined in 22 of 23 patients (96%). Left ventricular systolic function was correctly diagnosed in 22 of 23 patients (96%). These results show that, with appropriate instruction, pediatric critical care physicians are effective using limited portable echocardiography.
-
J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Apr 2005
Computer-based training in two-dimensional echocardiography using an echocardiography simulator.
Two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography is a user-dependent technique that poses some inherent problems to the beginner. The first problem for beginners is spatial orientation, especially the orientation of the scan plane in reference to the 3-dimensional (3D) geometry of the heart. The second problem for beginners is steering of the ultrasound probe. ⋯ We have evaluated the usability of the simulator in an introductory course for final-year medical students. The simulator was graded realistic and easy to use. According to a subjective self-assessment by a standardized questionnaire the aforementioned skills were imparted effectively.