Transthoracic echocardiography in the preoperative clinic

Abstract

Whilst conventional (‘quantitative’) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) performed by an echocardiography laboratory remains a useful diagnostic tool for non-invasive cardiac assessment, limited availability, cost, and a time-delay between request and result restrict its use. However, increased availability, portability and imaging capability of TTE equipment has enabled treating physicians to perform their own ‘focused TTE’ as an aid to initial clinical assessment at the ‘point-of-care’ when required. Initially embraced by critical care and emergency physicians for rapid assessment of shock, anaesthetists are increasingly using focused TTE for perioperative cardiac assessment. An abbreviat..