Experience with an ultrasound stethoscope.
BACKGROUND
To test the diagnostic potential of the SonoHeart, a battery-powered hand-held ultrasound imaging device, in an outpatient clinic setting.


METHODS
A total of 114 patients with a variety of cardiac diseases were examined by 2 independent cardiologists with the hand-held device using the standard echocardiographic system (SE) as a reference. Global right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) function (scored as normal, mildly to moderately, or severely reduced) and internal cavity dimensions were assessed. Regional wall motion of 6 segments using a 2-point score (1 = normal wall motion, 2 = abnormal wall motion) was evaluated in 34 patients on-line.


RESULTS
There was a good agreement between the 2 imaging devices for evaluation of global LV (93%) and RV function (99%), regional wall motion (90%), dimensions of the LV (99%) and the RV (99%), and the left (96%) and right atria (99%). Furthermore, SonoHeart identified hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, and abnormalities of valves.


CONCLUSIONS
The SonoHeart device allows rapid and accurate diagnosis, whenever needed in the outpatient clinic.
Vourvouri
Eleni C
EC
Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Poldermans
Don
D
De Sutter
Johan
J
Sozzi
Fabiola B
FB
Izzo
Paolo
P
Roelandt
Jos R T C
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D019023:Stethoscopes; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology