Open-access echocardiography to general practitioners for suspected heart failure.
AUTOR(ES)
Murphy, J J
RESUMO
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.
ACESSO AO ARTIGO
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1239719Documentos Relacionados
- Open-access echocardiography.
- JASPAR: an open-access database for eukaryotic transcription factor binding profiles
- Open-access paediatric echocardiography: changing role and referral patterns to a consultant-led service in a tertiary referral centre.
- As one journal ends open-access policy, a new one embraces it
- Open access to orthopaedic appliances for general practitioners.