[Emergency echocardiography in Denmark]

In spring 1997, all medical departments in Denmark and the Faroe Islands, not including cardiological centers, were asked to reply to a questionnaire concerning their ability to perform echocardiography at hours different from normal daytime. The response rate was 94.5%. In 21 (30.4%) of 69 departments none of the senior doctors on duty were able to perform echocardiography. In only eight (11.6%) of the departments were more than 50% of the senior doctors on duty able to perform echocardiography (M-mode/2D). Echocardiography is the most informative investigation for patients with suspected acute heart failure or with acute dyspnoea of unknown cause. In these cases acutely performed echocardiography will often be of critical diagnostic value and thereby deciding for correct and rapid therapy. This investigation shows that only a very small fraction of the medical departments in Denmark are able to perform acute echocardiography on a 24-hour basis.