Tag Archives: transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)

Introduction Performing a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) usually involves an echocardiographer and a patient spending about 30 minutes in close proximity. This presents a risk for COVID-19 transmission for them both. In March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) released guidance about inpatient scanning advocating triage of requests, targeted scanning and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).1 Their subsequent COVID-19 recovery advice relating to outpatient services outlined risk mitigation and performing ‘as focused a study as the referral allows’ if the patient had been sc

Dr Allam Harfoush Case presentation A 60-year-old, nonsmoking, white woman presented with a severe dyspnoea and cyanosis to the emergency department. The woman was visiting her siblings when a sudden dyspnoea evolved; patient history showed that the woman had hypertension treated orally for 10 years (treated with perindopril 4 mg and bisoprolol 5 mg) and recently diagnosed diabetes (not treated). Table 1. Results of investigations The patient neglected any chest/epigastric discomfort or pain, no recent cough or sputum, no history of anginal pain or orthopnoea. No history of recent psychological or emotional stress. Inspection revealed a respi