Role of Echocardiography in Pediatric Intensive & intermediate Care Unit

Abstract

Background:Echocardiography is a valuable component of the clinical service in the pediatric intensive and intermediate care units. It is an important bedside imaging modality and an accurate diagnostic tool that provides a clear image of the heart. Objectives: Our objective in this study was to detect the role of echocardiography in pediatric intensive and intermediate care units at Sohag University Hospital, Egypt. Method:It was a prospective hospital-based study conducted in pediatric intensive & intermediate care units from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017.These intensive care units receive critically ill children from emergency pediatric department or directly from the outpatient clinic. Data of these patients was collected; including clinical history, clinical examination, clinical indications for echocardiography, echocardiographic findings and management alterations after echocardiography. Results:During the study period, 495 patients were admitted to intensive and intermediate care units and 182 echocardiograms were performed for 170 patients.Congenital heart disease was the most common indication and finding of echocardiography.In this study 61% of echocardiograms done produced new findings that lead to additional clinical management steps especially medical interventions (30% of interventions). Conclusion:Echocardiography is a very valuable tool in ICUs. More than half of echocardiograms done produced new findings that changed management plans for these critical patients, so its use should be encouraged on a wide base in these units.