RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Open-access echocardiography to general practitioners for suspected heart failure.
JF British Journal of General Practice
JO Br J Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 475
OP 476
VO 46
IS 409
A1 Murphy, J J
A1 Frain, J P
A1 Ramesh, P
A1 Siddiqui, R N
A1 Bossingham, C M
YR 1996
UL http://bjgp.org/content/46/409/475.abstract
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.