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Handheld echocardiography in patients with cardiovascular disease: to use or not to use, that is the question

Eric Wierda1, Berto J Bouma2, Renee B A van den Brink2

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Dijklander Hospital, Hoorn, The Netherlands. e.wierda@amsterdamumc.nl.

Netherlands Heart Journal : Monthly Journal of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Heart Foundation
|December 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Handheld echocardiography enhances physical exams for cardiovascular disease, improving detection of valvular heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. This technology shows promise in ruling out conditions with low pre-test probability.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Diagnostic Tools

Background:

  • Physical examination is a cornerstone of medical diagnosis.
  • Traditional methods include inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
  • Advancements in technology introduce new diagnostic modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diagnostic accuracy and limitations of handheld echocardiography when combined with cardiovascular physical examination.
  • To assess the impact of handheld echocardiography on the detection of cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of diagnostic accuracy studies.
  • Comparison of physical examination alone versus combined with handheld echocardiography.
  • Analysis of sensitivity for specific cardiovascular conditions.

Main Results:

  • Handheld echocardiography significantly increases sensitivity for valvular heart disease (71% vs. 46%).
  • It also improves detection of left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction <50%) (84% vs. 43%).
  • The technology may be more effective for ruling out conditions than confirming them.

Conclusions:

  • Handheld echocardiography can be considered a potential fifth element of the physical examination.
  • Its integration improves diagnostic capabilities in acute cardiovascular care.
  • Further evaluation is needed regarding its role in confirming high pre-test probability diseases.

Keywords:
Coronavirus disease 2019Handheld echocardiographyHandheld ultrasound-assisted physical examinationPhysical examination

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