TY - JOUR T1 - Open-access echocardiography to general practitioners for suspected heart failure. JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 475 LP - 476 VL - 46 IS - 409 AU - J J Murphy AU - J P Frain AU - P Ramesh AU - R N Siddiqui AU - C M Bossingham Y1 - 1996/08/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/46/409/475.abstract N2 - Echocardiography is now considered to be the key investigation when heart failure is suspected, and should improve clinical management. An open-access echocardiography service was piloted to 24 general practitioners and the service was audited after 250 cases. The impact on clinical management was assessed by reviewing general practice notes 2 months after the echocardiogram. Significant impairment of left ventricular function was found in 49 patients (20%). Out of these subjects, 38 had been started on an ACE inhibitor. Twenty patients were considered to have a significant valve lesion by echocritiera, of whom 14 had been referred for a cardiological opinion. The provision of an open-access echocardiography service was popular with general practitioners and the information resulted in appropriate management decisions being made. ER -