Moving the needle towards the democratization of echocardiography: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Echocardiography has been traditionally performed in echo labs and the potential benefits of its use by primary care physicians (PCPs) are still unexplored. We present a case where POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) was used as a complement of physical examination by a family doctor, allowing a prompt clinical decision in a heart failure (HF) patient.

Case summary

An 85-year-old woman, living independently, asks her family doctor for a home consultation due to increasing dyspnoea. On examination, severe dyspnoea and bilateral ankle oedema was noted and a point-of-care echocardiogram was performed by the primary care physician, who observed: severely compromised left ventricular systolic function, moderate mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, and severe dilation of th

SUBMITTER: Dos Santos J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7042128 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature