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European Journal of Echocardiography Advance Access originally published online on June 20, 2008
European Journal of Echocardiography 2008 9(6):721-725; doi:10.1093/ejechocard/jen177
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Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2008. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The pocket echocardiograph: a useful new tool?

Margaret Egan and A. Ionescu*

Morriston Cardiac Centre, Morriston, Swansea SA6 6NL, UK

Received 21 February 2008; accepted after revision 18 May 2008; online publish-ahead-of-print 20 June 2008.

* Corresponding author. Tel: +44 1792 703195; fax: +44 1792 703544.E-mail address: adrian.ionescu{at}swansea-tr.wales.nhs.uk


  Abstract

Aims: Hand-carried ultrasound scanners are getting smaller. The Acuson P10 is the latest and smallest portable echocardiograph available on the market.

Methods and results: We tested the ability of this scanner to allow qualitative assessment of LV size and function in an unselected group of 30 patients [19 male, 11 female; mean age (SD) 64.7 (10.3) years] seen by a consultant cardiologist (accredited for advanced echocardiography) during a week on call in a regional cardiac tertiary facility. Patients had focused scans (parasternal long-axis and apical four chamber views) for a maximum of 4 min, and an assessment of LVEF (normal/abnormal) and LV dimension (LVD) (dilated/non-dilated) was recorded. Where available, this was compared with results of alternative imaging modalities. In 23 (77%) patients, it was possible to assess LVEF and LVD; of these, 19 (83%) had alternative imaging techniques, which confirmed the findings. It was possible to obtain a parasternal long-axis image in 28 (93%) patients and apical four-chamber views in 23 (77%). Clinical management was altered by the findings of the portable scan in two patients.

Conclusion: The ‘pocket scanner’ allows accurate qualitative assessment of left ventricular dimensions and function in a substantial proportion of patients seen in tertiary cardiology practice.

Keywords: Hand-carried ultrasound scanner; Clinical use


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