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Clinical comparison of a handheld cardiac ultrasound device for the assessment of left ventricular function

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Abstract

Purpose

Recently developed handheld ultrasound devices (HHUD) represent a promising method to evaluate the cardiovascular abnormalities at the point of care. However, this technology has not been rigorously evaluated. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation and the agreement between the LVEF (Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) visually assessed by a moderately experienced sonographer using an HHUD compared to the routine LVEF assessment performed at the Echocardiography Laboratory.

Methods

This was a prospective single center study which enrolled 120 adult inpatients and outpatients referred for a comprehensive Echocardiography (EC).

Results

The mean age of the patients was 69.9 ± 12.5 years. There were 47 females (39.2%). The R-squared was r 0.94 (p < 0.0001) and the ICC was 0.93 (IC 95% 0.91–0.95, p ≤ 0.0001). The Bland-Altman plot showed limits of agreement (LOA): Upper LOA 10.61 and Lower LOA − 8.95. The overall agreement on the LVEF assessment when it was stratified as “normal” or “reduced” was 89.1%, with a kappa of 0.77 (p < 0.0001). When the LVEF was classified as “normal”, “mildly reduced”, “moderately reduced”, or “severely reduced,” the kappa was 0.77 (p < 0.0001). The kappa between the HHUD EC and the comprehensive EC for the detection of RWMAs in the territories supplied by the LAD, LCX and RCA was 0.85, 0.73 and 0.85, respectively.

Conclusion

With current HHUD, an averagely experienced operator can accurately bedside visual estimate the LVEF. This may facilitate the incorporation of this technology in daily clinical practice improving the management of patients.

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Funding

This study did not receive a grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or non-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Universitari i Politécnic La Fe, Valencia (Valencia), España

    Andrea Teira Calderón

  2. Grupo de Investigación Cardiovascular, Instituto de Investigación Valdecilla (IDIVAL), Santander (Cantabria), España

    Andrea Teira Calderón, Cristina Ruisánchez, Mónica Fernández-Valls, Francisco González Vilchez, Jose María de la Torre Hernández & Jose Antonio Vazquez de Prada

  3. Section of Interventional Cardiology, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, United States

    Molly Levine & Héctor M. García-García

  4. Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Av. de Valdecilla, 25, 39008, Santander, Cantabria, España

    Cristina Ruisánchez, David Serrano, Santiago Catoya, Miguel Llano, Piedad Lerena, José María Cuesta, Mónica Fernández-Valls, Francisco González Vilchez, Jose María de la Torre Hernández & Jose Antonio Vazquez de Prada

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Contributions

Andrea Teira Calderón and Jose Antonio Vázque de Prada Tiffe contributed to the conception and design of the study, the acquisition of data, the analysis and interpretation of data and the drafting of the article. Molly Levine; Cristina Ruisánchez Villar; David Serrano González; Santiago Catoya Villa; Miguel Llano Cardenal; Piedad Lerena Saenza; José María Cuesta Cosgaya; Mónica Fernández-Valls; Francisco González Vilchez; Jose María de la Torre Hernández; Héctor M. García-García contributed revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. All authors approved the version to be submitted.

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Teira Calderón, A., Levine, M., Ruisánchez, C. et al. Clinical comparison of a handheld cardiac ultrasound device for the assessment of left ventricular function. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 40, 55–64 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-023-02979-8

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