title: [Teleconsulting in echocardiography using a standard cable on HDSL].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teleconsultation in echocardiography is complex owing to the heavy images and video files to be exchanged; moreover standards for data acquisition still need to be defined. The aim of this experience was to verify the feasibility to connect two laboratories for teleconsulting using a standard HDSL telephone cable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hardware included one echocardiograph, one PC, video aquisition board and network board, USB webcam, Network router and an HDSL line for data communication. Software includes MS Windows XP and Netmeeting. The live interactivity between the labs was granted by a video streaming in MPEG4 format, directly delivered by the PC communication software. Standard DICOM was used for formal aspects. The platform has been verified during a demo at "National Congress of Cardiovascular Echography" in 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experiment survey collected at the Teleconference gave a consistently good result. Twenty-one subjects filled in the questionnaire: 12 of them (57%) reported a difference between the video streaming and DICOM; whereas 7 of them (33%) did not point out it. Overall findings have been positive, even though 15 members (71%) reported feasibility with some difficulties; 18 members (86%) reported the possibility of really using this technology in the future. The total cost was 145000 euro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our opinion, overall cost is more than acceptable especially considering how often to send data is more convenient than moving sick people or consultants.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Ecografia Cardiovascolare, U.O. di Cardiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera San Paolo, Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria, Università degli Studi, Milano. mantero.antonio@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantero
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catena
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarelli
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torta
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedroncelli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Begnis
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tappia
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vitali
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation