The development of echocardiography at the UWI - abstract

ABSTRACT

Echocardiography was first performed at University Hospital of the West Indies in 1981. The M-mode technique was employed, utilizing a Smith-Kline-French echocardiograph with a strip chart recorder. Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies began to be offered in 1984, utilizing a General Electric (General Ultrasound) machine sited in the X-ray Department. The resolution of the images obtained, however, was limited. From 1988 to 1989, better resolution was attained by the use of an Ultramark 4 echocardiograph which the Medical Research Council Laboratories (Jamaica) allowed use of for University Hospital patients. Basic pulsed wave doppler capability could also be offered. In 1989, the UWI Department of Medicine obtained an Ultramark 6 echocardiograph which allowed full two-dimensional imaging, pulsed and continuous wave doppler and colour flow mapping. Between July 1989 and December 1992, 5,276 echocardiograms (50 percent males, 50 percent females) were performed, using this machine, and a wide variety of cardiovascular diagnoses were made. Future plans include the development of transoesophageal echocardiography at the UHWI which will greatly expand diagnostic capabities (AU)