title: Emergency echocardiography.
abstract: Emergency echocardiography refers to the use of cardiac ultrasound to address critical and time-sensitive clinical questions during the initial evaluation and treatment of the critically ill patient presenting to the emergency department. The information obtained can be pivotal to a physician's clinical decision making and can guide further diagnostic or therapeutic interventions. This article provides an evidence-based discussion of the common uses of emergency transthoracic echocardiography, as well as its benefits and limitations in the current practice of emergency medicine.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Anthony.Weekes@carolinashealthcare.org
authors: Anthony J
authors: AJ
authors: Weekes
authors: Dale P
authors: DP
authors: Quirke
mesh_terms: D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems