Implementation of paediatric three-dimensional echocardiography: a quality improvement intervention and process...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) offers advanced visualization for pediatric cardiac assessments.
• Optimizing 3D TTE utilization in high-yield pediatric populations is crucial for procedural planning.
• Current adoption rates for 3D TTE in specific pediatric patient groups may be suboptimal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a quality improvement intervention aimed at increasing the performance of 3D TTE.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on the proportion of eligible pediatric patients receiving 3D TTE.
• To evaluate the effect of the intervention on clinical workflow.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative was designed and implemented.
• The intervention focused on identifying high-yield pediatric patient populations for pre-procedural echocardiograms.
• Data on 3D TTE utilization and workflow were collected and analyzed before and after intervention.

Main Results:

• The percentage of eligible pediatric patients undergoing 3D TTE increased significantly post-intervention.
• Utilization rose from a baseline of 20.3% to a maximum of 90.9%.
• The intervention demonstrated minimal negative impact on the existing clinical workflow.

Conclusions:

• A targeted quality improvement intervention can substantially increase 3D TTE use in pediatric cardiology.
• Key strategies for success include establishing champions, setting clear goals, and developing candidate identification systems.
• These findings support the broader adoption of 3D TTE in pediatric echocardiography.