BACKGROUNDThe 2019 novel coronavirus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been declared a pandemic and is severely affecting the provision of health care services all over the world. 1 Health care workers are at higher risk because this virus is very easily spread, especially through the kind of close contact involved in the performance of echocardiographic studies. The virus carries relatively high mortality and morbidity risk, particularly for certain populations (the elderly, the chronically ill, the immunocompromised, and possibly pregnant women). 2 Given the risk for cardiovascular complications in the setting of COVID-19, including preexisting cardiac disease, acute cardiac injury, and drug-related myocardial damage, 3 echocardiographic services will likely be required in the care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Consequently, echocardiography providers will be exposed to SARS-CoV-2.Sonographers, nurses, advance practice providers, and physicians have a duty to care for patients and are at the front lines in the battle against disease. We are at high risk, particularly when we participate in This document is endorsed by the following

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BACKGROUND The 2019 novel coronavirus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which results in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been declared a pandemic and is severely affecting the provision of health care services all over the world (1). Health care workers are at higher risk because this virus is very easily spread, especially through the kind of close contact involved in the performance of echocardiographic studies. The virus carries relatively high mortality and morbidity risk, particularly for certain populations (the elderly, the chronically ill, the immunocompromised, and possibly pregnant women) (2). Given the risk for cardiovascular complications in the setting of COVID-19, including preexisting cardiac disease, acute cardiac injury, and drug-related myocardial damage, (3) echocardiographic services will likely be required in the care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Consequently, echocardiography providers will be exposed to SARS-CoV-2.

Patients with CKD or ESRD have worse in-hospital outcomes after TAVR. AKI is associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing TAVR and the incidence of AKI has not declined over the years.