title: Use of transthoracic echocardiography in the evaluation of chest pain: illustrative cases and review of recent guidelines.
abstract: Chest pain (CP) is a very common presentation with a wide range of differential diagnoses, including life-threatening conditions, which need to be considered, diagnosed and treated urgently. Cardiac CP accounts for less than one-third of causes. Echocardiography is a valuable non-invasive tool that can help in diagnosing and treating patients presenting with CP. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines state that echocardiography can help in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes and also in ruling out other serious conditions. We present three cases where transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was essential in assessing patients, making the correct diagnosis and offering the right treatment. This article emphasises the importance of using TTE in assessing patients with CP and hopes to promote its consideration in day-to-day practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aldwaik
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham, UK.
authors.forename: Aled P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Feuvre
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Wrexham, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cowell
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012077:Renal Artery; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging