July 3, 2012 — Researchers have announced the results of a study that revealed that detection of pulmonary congestion using pocket-sized transthoracic echocardiography (pTTE) in patients with known or suspected heart failure is feasible, accurate and useful.
The poster based on the study, “Detection of Pulmonary Congestion Using the Newly-developed Pocket-sized Transthoracic Echocardiographic Imaging Device in Patients with Heart Failure,” will be displayed on Monday, July 2 in the exhibit and poster hall during the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 23rd Annual Scientific Sessions at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, Md. The investigators will be available to discuss their posters from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Primary investigator Rika Takemoto, RDCS of Okayama University will also present this research during the Rapid-Fire Oral Abstracts: Echo for Assessing the Ventricle: From Molecules to Outcomes session on Tuesday, July 3 from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
The portable, reasonably priced pTTE device allows physicians to do quick evaluations of patients presenting symptoms in the emergency room, and could change the treatment strategy for home care patients as well, according to Dr. Hiroki Oe of Okayama University Hospital and Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan, lead author for the study. He explained that the identification of “ultrasound lung comets (ULCs) by handheld ultrasound is simple, fast and clinically useful for the evaluation of pulmonary congestion in patients with HF. A recently-developed pocket-sized transthoracic echocardiographic imaging device allows physicians to perform initial studies in a variety of clinical settings.”
For more information: www.asecho.org