> I'm curious to know your feelings regarding open-access echocardiography.
> Should GPs be sending patients for echos ?
> If so, what constitutes a suitable referral clinically ?
We have local echocardiography access but we have to attend a course first
given by local physician - he is a general physician with interest in
non-invasive cardiology.
The Echo are taken by the technician but reviewed by the physician with
guidance for further care by us. ther are four main areas for referral
1 Heart Failure - there seems to be a lot of people on diuretics with
orthostatic oedema or shortness of breath that is treated by
ventofrusicillin. This helps to give a more rational basis to future
treatment. ie if there is normally functioning left ventricle in a normal
structured heart forget the failure.
2 Atrial fibrillation. this helps in assessing the risk of CVA and
therefore the advice about anticoagulation, aspirin etc
3 Asymptomatic murmur - is this something that needs invasive investigation
or is there a problem that needs no direct treatment but may need
prophylactic antibiotics. The referral time for the echo is much quicker
than that to a catheter pusher.
4 Asymptomatic cardiomegaly on Xray but no murmurs. Is there a problem here
- failure, flabby myocardium etc.
We find the service very useful
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Stuart Skeates [log in to unmask]
Romsey, Hants
General Medical Practitioner
PGP ID: 102AB451: 58 A1 3A D4 30 54 E2 17 5D E7 84 79 42 8B 79 D1
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