Don’t perform routine echocardiography as part of routine follow-up in patients with mild to moderate valvular heart disease or with left ventricular dysfunction, in the absence of new symptoms, signs or clinical events.

Don’t perform routine echocardiography as part of routine follow-up in patients with mild to moderate valvular heart disease or with left ventricular dysfunction, in the absence of new symptoms, signs or clinical events.

Type of practice

Cardiological tests

Age

Adult, Geriatric

Topic Area

Cardiology

Due to the slow evolution of mild to moderate valvular disease and the clinical uselessness of reevaluating left ventricular function in clinically stable patients, an echocardiogram is not recommended unless there is a change in clinical status.

Sources

1. Douglas PS, Garcia MJ, Haines DE, Lai WW, Manning WJ, Patel AR, Picard MH, Polk DM, Ragosta M, Ward RP, Weiner RB. ACCF/ASE/AHA/ASNC/HFSA/HRS/SCAI/SCCM/SCCT/SCMR 2011 Appropriate Use Criteria for Echocardiography. A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, American Society of Echocardiography, American Heart Association, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Endorsed by the American College of Chest Physicians. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Mar 1; 57(9): 1126-66.

Attention. Please note that these items are provided only for information and are not intended as a substitute for consultation with a clinician. Patients with any specific questions about the items on this list or their individual situation should consult their clinician.