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Screening for left ventricular dysfunction using a hand-carried cardiac ultrasound device.
Eleni C Vourvouri1, Arend F L Schinkel, Jos R T C Roelandt
1Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
European Journal of Heart Failure
|December 17, 2003
Summary
Hand-carried cardiac ultrasound (HCU) reliably screens for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. This cardiac ultrasound device accurately detects LV ejection fraction and IVC collapse, proving useful in primary care settings.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Primary Care Diagnostics
Background:
- Hand-carried cardiac ultrasound (HCU) devices represent a novel imaging technology.
- Potential utility of HCU in primary care settings for cardiac assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the screening capability of HCU for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction.
- Assess LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and inferior vena cava (IVC) collapse using HCU.
- Compare HCU findings with standard echocardiography (SE) and plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).
Main Methods:
- Eighty-eight patients with suspected LV dysfunction were enrolled.
- HCU-LVEF was visually estimated; SE-LVEF used Simpson's method.
- LV dysfunction defined as LVEF <40%; abnormal IVC collapse <50%; elevated BNP > or =15 pmol/l.
Main Results:
- 19 out of 82 patients (23%) had LV dysfunction.
- HCU and BNP identified 17 and 18 patients with LV dysfunction, respectively.
- Agreement between SE and HCU for LVEF and IVC collapse was 96%; HCU-LVEF sensitivity was 89%.
Conclusions:
- HCU devices demonstrate reliable performance as a screening tool for LV dysfunction.
- HCU shows high sensitivity in detecting LV dysfunction, comparable to BNP.
- The findings support the use of HCU in primary care for cardiac screening.