title: Transthoracic echocardiography findings - implications for clinical management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is commonly used for the evaluation of suspected or known cardiac disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article discusses the impact of TTE findings on patient management using seven case studies as examples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Any abnormality on echocardiography should be carefully considered as to its severity, cause and potential to account for the patient's symptoms. Evidence based therapies should be instituted in the setting of a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and previously unrecognised myocardial infarction. Other abnormalities such as left ventricular hypertrophy or diastolic abnormalities suggest the need for more aggressive risk factor control. Patients should be referred to a cardiologist for further evaluation if the cause of TTE abnormalities or overall diagnosis is uncertain or the patient needs ongoing monitoring and treatment.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research and the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. jennifer.coller@svhm.org.au
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coller
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krum
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054144:Heart Failure, Diastolic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging