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Targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) service in a Canadian neonatal intensive care unit: a 4-year experience

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 687–690 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

To characterize the effect of a targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) program on decision making in a tertiary level unit.

Study design:

Retrospective cohort study of neonates, admitted between September 2007 and April 2011. Details of the TnECHO, and the clinical decisions within 6 h of the consultation were recorded.

Result:

A total of 199 infants underwent 512 echocardiograms with a median (interquartile range) of 2 (1 to 3) TnECHO studies per infant. The indications included assessment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; n=261, 51%), post-PDA ligation assessment (n=101, 19%), pulmonary hemodynamics (n=81, 16%), myocardial performance and systemic blood flow (n=52, 10%), and central venous catheter tip position (n=6, 1%). TnECHO consultation was followed by a change in clinical management in 212 cases (41%) and avoidance of a planned intervention in 112 cases (22%).

Conclusion:

TnECHO may be a useful tool to guide clinical decisions in the neonatal intensive care unit setting. Well-planned prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of TnECHO on outcomes.

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Author notes

  1. A EL-Khuffash and C Herbozo: Shared first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    A EL-Khuffash

  2. Department of Neonatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    C Herbozo, A Jain, A Lapointe & P J McNamara

  3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    A Jain & P J McNamara

  4. Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

    P J McNamara

  5. Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    P J McNamara

Authors
  1. A EL-Khuffash
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  2. C Herbozo
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  3. A Jain
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  4. A Lapointe
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  5. P J McNamara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P J McNamara.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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EL-Khuffash, A., Herbozo, C., Jain, A. et al. Targeted neonatal echocardiography (TnECHO) service in a Canadian neonatal intensive care unit: a 4-year experience. J Perinatol 33, 687–690 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.42

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