Basics of Echocardiography - Echocardiographic Assessment

Focused cardiac ultrasound versus comprehensive echocardiography

Focused cardiac ultrasound versus comprehensive echocardiography:

• Ultrasonography has been clinically used since the mid-20th century; however, ultrasound devices have evolved from expensive, largely cumbersome machines to affordable, handheld instruments over the recent years. As a result, there has been increasing use of echocardiography by noncardiologists to supplement the physical examination and other physiologic monitors in order to rapidly rule out or diagnose numerous pathologies in an unstable patient. The American Society of Echocardiography defines focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) as a technique to supplement physical examination to recognize explicit ultrasonic signs that represent a narrow list of potential diagnoses in a specific clinical setting. The remainder of this chapter will address FoCUS assessment.