Murphy J J, Frain J P, Ramesh P, Siddiqui R N, Bossingham C M
Darlington Memorial Hospital, County Durham.
Br J Gen Pract. 1996 Aug;46(409):475-6.
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.
当怀疑心力衰竭时，超声心动图现在被认为是关键的检查手段，并且应该改善临床管理。一项面向24名全科医生的开放获取超声心动图服务进行了试点，并在250例病例后对该服务进行了审核。通过在超声心动图检查后2个月审查全科医疗记录来评估对临床管理的影响。49名患者（20%）发现左心室功能有明显损害。在这些患者中，38名已开始使用血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂。根据超声心动图标准，20名患者被认为有明显的瓣膜病变，其中14名已被转诊以获得心脏病学意见。提供开放获取的超声心动图服务受到全科医生的欢迎，并且这些信息促成了适当的管理决策。
