An audit of emergency echocardiography in a district general hospital

Eighty patients (43 M, 37 F), aged 23–89 years who were referred for emergency echocardiography over a 12-month period were prospectively studied in order to determine the reasons for emergency echocardiography and the influence of its results on patient management. The most frequent emergency request was to clarify whether the basis for cardiomegaly in a haemodynamically unstable patient was pericardial effusion or left ventricular dilatation. Other reasons for requests were for assessment for source of systemic emboli, acute complications of myocardial infarction, endocarditis, valve dysfunction and cardiac trauma. As a consequence of the emergency echocardiography, management was immediately influenced in 19 patients. This study has provided information on the specific settings in which emergency echocardiography can be justified.