title: Targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) service in a Canadian neonatal intensive care unit: a 4-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the effect of a targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) program on decision making in a tertiary level unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study of neonates, admitted between September 2007 and April 2011. Details of the TnECHO, and the clinical decisions within 6 h of the consultation were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 199 infants underwent 512 echocardiograms with a median (interquartile range) of 2 (1 to 3) TnECHO studies per infant. The indications included assessment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; n=261, 51%), post-PDA ligation assessment (n=101, 19%), pulmonary hemodynamics (n=81, 16%), myocardial performance and systemic blood flow (n=52, 10%), and central venous catheter tip position (n=6, 1%). TnECHO consultation was followed by a change in clinical management in 212 cases (41%) and avoidance of a planned intervention in 112 cases (22%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TnECHO may be a useful tool to guide clinical decisions in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. Well-planned prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of TnECHO on outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Khuffash
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herbozo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies