Is a 4 days transoesophageal training course sufficient to diagnose shock related pathologies?

INTRODUCTION: Echocardiography is a useful tool in patients suffering from shock of unknown origin to evaluate cardiac function and volume status in order to decide on further treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate how well participants could identify function, preload and regional wall motion abnormalities after attending a 4-day transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) seminar. METHODS: In this prospective educational trial, participants of six TOE seminars from 2005 to 2006 were evaluated. On the basis of seven echocardiographic studies, evaluations by participants concerning cardiac function, preload and regional wall motion were analyzed. Moreover, specific causes of undifferentiated hypotension were to be judged in three cases by the participants. RESULTS: A total of 115 participants of the TOE seminars from 2005 to 2006 were evaluated. Correct sectional plane was recognized by more than 76% of the participants. Left ventricular function, preload, and regional wall abnormalities were assessed correctly by the participants in 98%, 96%, and 84%, respectively. Moreover, more than 70% of the participants recognized the correct cause of hemodynamic instability. CONCLUSION: The results of the investigation show that participants of a 4-day TOE seminar can interpret left ventricular function, preload and regional wall motion abnormalities correctly at a very high rate. TOE seminars seem to be effective in teaching basic theoretical knowledge of TOE.

Left ventricular end-diastolic area is a measure of cardiac preload in patients with early septic shock.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Central venous pressure, intrathoracic blood volume, and left ventricular end-diastolic area are reliable measures of cardiac preload under stable clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare different preload parameters over 24 h under conditions of multiple, frequently changing treatments in early septic shock. METHODS: In 28 mechanically ventilated patients within 6 h of the onset of septic shock, left ventricular end-diastolic area was measured using transoesophageal echocardiography. Intrathoracic blood volume, stroke volume variation, and central venous pressure were analysed as preload parameters. The relation between parameter changes and changes in therapy was examined with respect to cardiac index and stroke volume index. RESULTS: Regarding preload variables, linear regression analyses revealed a significant correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic area and stroke volume index (r=0.59, P<0.001) and cardiac index (r=0.41, P<0.001), respectively. Changes in left ventricular end-diastolic index and intrathoracic blood volume index reflected changes in the stroke volume index, whereas central venous pressure did not. Myocardial responsiveness also failed to predict changes in the stroke volume index. CONCLUSION: Only the left ventricular end-diastolic area index may help predict preload in ventilated patients with early septic shock.