Diagnostic and treatment utility of echocardiography in the management of the cardiac patient

• 作者: Amgad N Makaryus Ariella Khalili Jennifer Drummond Neiman Ramjattan Roman Zeltser
• 来源期刊: 世界心脏病学杂志:英文版(电子版)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: ECHOCARDIOGRAM Utilization CARDIOLOGY INPATIENT Survey MANAGEMENT
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（6）
• 页码范围: 262-268
• 页数: 7页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

BACKGROUND Echocardiograms are an incredibly useful diagnostic tool due to their lack of harmful radiation,the relative ease and speed with which they can be performed,and their almost ubiquitous availability.Unfortunately,the advantages that support the use of echocardiography can also lead to the overuse of this technology.We sought to evaluate the physician perceived impact echocardiography has on patient management.AIM To evaluate the physician perceived impact echocardiography has on patient management.METHODS Surveys were distributed to the ordering physician for echocardiograms performed at our institution over a 10-wk period.Only transthoracic echocardiograms performed on the inpatient service were included.Surveys were distributed to either the attending physician or the resident physician listed on the echocardiogram order.The information requested in the survey focused on the indication for the study and the perceived importance and effect of the study.Observational statistical analysis was performed on all of the answers from the collected surveys.RESULTS A total of 103 surveys were obtained and analyzed.The internal medicine(57%)and cardiology(37%)specialties ordered the most echocardiograms.The most common reason for ordering an echocardiogram was to rule out a diagnosis(38.2%).Only 27.5%of physicians reported that the echocardiogram significantly affected patient care,with 18.6%reporting a moderate effect,and 30.4%reporting a mild effect.A total of 19.6%of physicians stated that there was no effect on patient management.Additionally,43.1%of physicians reported that they made changes in patient management due to no change having occurred in the disease,11.8%reported that changes in management were based on the recommendation of a specialist,and only 9.8%reported that further imaging was ordered due to the results of the echocardiogram.The majority of physicians(67.6%)considered an echocardiogram to be“somewhat essential”in the management of adult inpatients,with only 15.7%considering it“essent