title: Tele-echocardiography in paediatrics.
abstract: Echocardiographic images can be transmitted over increasing distances with less cost and better quality thanks to advances in the field of telecommunications. This technological support can be used to detect heart defects in newborns and children in remote situations. The intent of this study was to confirm the feasibility and usefulness of telemedical communication for echocardiographic evaluation of paediatric cardiovascular disease. A total of 214 echocardiographs were performed in 194 children at a remote hospital by an experienced sonographer in paediatric echocardiography. These echocardiograms were transmitted to a distant tertiary care paediatric cardiology centre using a telemedicine link across three ISDN lines. There an experienced paediatric cardiologist interpreted the tele-echocardiograms. Tele-distant diagnoses were prospectively documented and compared with the diagnoses made subsequently on direct consultation and echocardiography. The quality of transmitted echocardiographic images was sufficient for evaluation except for one case. In 191 children (98%), the remote echocardiographic diagnosis was correct as confirmed by follow-up face to face consultations. Three cases were diagnosed incorrectly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  our results confirm that accurate and rapid diagnosis can be provided by tele-echocardiography in neonates and children. This facilitates the appropriate care of these patients as expensive and potentially dangerous long-distance transfers can be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatrics, Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghisla
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ramelli
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taminelli
authors.forename: Benno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caoduro
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gallino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland; D017216:Telemedicine