Recommendations in paediatric echocardiography: A green light?

Abstract

The performance of paediatric and congenital heart disease echocardiography requires extensive knowledge of all cardiac anomalies and their physiologic interactions along with an understanding of the surgical or interventional procedures used in the treatment of these lesions. This knowledge is gained through a supervised training program and ongoing performance of paediatric echocardiography supported by an appropriate quality assurance program. Studies have shown a high incidence of errors in paediatric echocardiography when performed by those with limited exposure to this speciality, highlighting the need for appropriate referral of patients with suspected congenital heart disease. With the recent publication of Recommendations for the Adult Cardiac Sonographer Performing Echocardiography to Screen for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in the Newborn from the American Society of Echocardiography, this commentary aims to address the perception that these recommendations may provide the key points necessary for adult trained echocardiographers to perform diagnostic echocardiography in patients with suspected critical congenital heart disease.L20115828872021-05-28 <br />2021-10-08 <br />