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. 2011 Feb;24(2):111-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2010.10.017. Epub 2010 Dec 3.

Diagnostic accuracy of a hand-held ultrasound scanner in routine patients referred for echocardiography

Christian Prinz  1 , Jens-Uwe Voigt
Affiliations

Diagnostic accuracy of a hand-held ultrasound scanner in routine patients referred for echocardiography

Christian Prinz et al. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the imaging capabilities of recent hand-held ultrasound scanners.

Methods: Three hundred forty-nine patients were scanned with hand-held ultrasound (HAND) and high-end echocardiography (HIGH). Segmental endocardial border delineation was scored (2 = good, 1 = poor, 0 = invisible) to describe image quality. Assessments of left ventricular (LV) dimensions, regional and global LV function, and grades of valve disease were compared.

Results: The mean endocardial visibility grades were 1.6 ± 0.5 with HAND and 1.7 ± 0.4 with HIGH (P < .01). Regional wall motion was scored very similarly (κ = 0.73, P < .01). Ejection fraction assessment (bias = 1.8%, 1.96 × SD = 8.3%) and LV measurements (r = 0.99, P < .01; interventricular septum: bias = 0.91 mm, 1.96 × SD = 2.1 mm; LV end-diastolic diameter: bias = 0.5 mm, 1.96 × SD = 4.1 mm; LV posterior wall: bias = 0.61 mm, 1.96 × SD = 2.4 mm) showed negligible deviations. No pericardial effusion or valve stenosis was missed. Regurgitations missed by HAND were all graded "minimal" on HIGH. Regurgitations were mildly overestimated by HAND. Overall concordance for detection of regurgitations was very good (κ = 0.9, P < .01).

Conclusions: Handheld echocardiography was feasible and missed no relevant findings. Given the future implementation of spectral Doppler capabilities, this handheld scanner can safely be used in clinical routine.

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Comment in

  • Echocardiography at the point of care: an ultra sound future.
    Zoghbi WA. Zoghbi WA. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011 Feb;24(2):132-4. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2010.12.014. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011. PMID: 21281908 No abstract available.
  • Anywhere, anytime?
    Voigt JU, Prinz C. Voigt JU, et al. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011 Dec;24(12):1331-2. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2011.11.001. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011. PMID: 22115323 No abstract available.