Appropriate use criteria of transthoracic echocardiography for suspected pediatric heart disease in outpatient settings have been issued for the first time.
The criteria, a collaboration of nine societies, will appear on the websites of the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography, and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.
“Of the various diagnostic modalities, echocardiography remains the most readily available, noninvasive, and highly diagnostic tool for assessing cardiac structure, function and hemodynamics in those with suspected cardiac disease,” said Dr. Robert Campbell of Emory University, Atlanta, and his associates. Of the 113 potential indications for first-time use of outpatient transthoracic echocardiography in children and adolescents that they considered, 53 were considered appropriate, 28 possibly appropriate, and 32 rarely appropriate (J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2014 Sept. 30 [doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.08.003]). The report addressed conditions such as arrhythmias and palpitations, syncope, murmurs, and systemic disorders.
The group collaborated with an Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) task force and an independent rating panel to produce the report. The criteria do not address posttest follow-up, inpatient pediatric echocardiography, or the assessment of children with known cardiac abnormalities, the authors said.
The writing group reported no funding sources or conflicts of interest. Three members of the rating panel and one member of the AUC task force reported financial relationships with Siemens Medical Systems or Excellus BCBS.