PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J J Murphy
AU  - J P Frain
AU  - P Ramesh
AU  - R N Siddiqui
AU  - C M Bossingham
TI  - Open-access echocardiography to general practitioners for suspected heart failure.
DP  - 1996 Aug 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 475--476
VI  - 46
IP  - 409
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/46/409/475.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/46/409/475.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract1996 Aug 01; 46
AB  - 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.