Echocardiography by telephone--evaluation of pediatric heart disease at a distance.
A 24-hour telephone transmission service was established for pediatric echocardiography between a general hospital and a children's hospital 500 km distant. Studies were transmitted in real time for interpretation and diagnosis by a pediatric cardiologist. In the first 9 months of operation, studies were transmitted for 18 children with a median age of 5 months. Image and sound quality was excellent. Complete segmental diagnosis was made in 16 patients, and further study was needed in 2 others. In 8 of the 18 patients a new diagnosis was provided, and in 10 patients diagnosis was confirmed. Congenital heart disease was found in 12 patients, other heart disease in 2 and a normal heart in 4. The population included 2 fetuses whose echocardiograms showed hypoplastic left heart and intracardiac tumor. In 4 patients transport was avoided. This is the first report of echocardiographic transmission by telephone, which was shown to be clearly feasible, cost-effective and diagnostic. It provides emergency access to specialist expertise, and may avoid hazardous and expensive transport of ill children.
Finley
J P
JP
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Izaak Walton Killam Children's Hospital, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Human
D G
DG
Nanton
M A
MA
Roy
D L
DL
Macdonald
R G
RG
Marr
D R
DR
Chiasson
H
H
D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009509:New Brunswick; D009674:Nova Scotia; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013689:Telephone / Q000191:economics