Impact of physician performed point of care ultrasound (POCUS) during first outpatient cardiology consultation on patient management and downstream testing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Goal directed point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside tool to assist with clinical diagnosis. We examined the impact of POCUS performed by consulting cardiologist (CC) during initial cardiology consult on clinical management and downstream testing.

Methods

Sixty-nine study patients (pts) seen in a general cardiology outpatient clinic of a tertiary center by an expert imaging CC were compared to a control group of 65 pts seen by three different CCs without POCUS during the same time-period, in whom the first standard echo (SE) was performed after the initial visit.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups for age, cardiac risk factors, and referral diagnoses. Echo findings on POCUS and by SE (mean delay of 17.2 days after vi

SUBMITTER: Aladham R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11415218 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature