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Contact: Angie Porter
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APorter@ASEcho.org
ASE Publishes Two Guidelines Recognizing Advances in Pediatric and Neonatal Echocardiography
(DURHAM, NC, February 5, 2024)—The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recently published two new guidelines offering updated recommendations on pediatric and neonatal echocardiography, replacing earlier guidelines published by the Society.
Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiogram: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography provides a comprehensive set of pediatric transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidelines to replace documents originally published by ASE in 2006 and 2010. The updated guideline establishes an organizational structure and a common language that can be utilized by any practice or institution providing echocardiographic services to children with suspected, congenital, or acquired heart disease.
“In the past decade, the care of children with heart disease has evolved due to improvements in scientific knowledge and technology. Echocardiography has played a major role in this evolution, due to its increasing ability to provide more accurate information related to cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics, and function,” says Leo Lopez, MD, FASE, chair of the guideline writing group. “The guideline helps organize the capabilities of echocardiography so that it can be used in a rational and logical way when caring for pediatric patients.”
One of the guideline’s writing group Co-Chairs, Carolyn Altman, MD, FASE, adds, “The document is designed to be an easy and convenient reference tool for busy clinicians and sonographers, and includes tables that succinctly summarize standard protocols and methods of quality improvement.”
The second guideline, titled Guidelines and Recommendations for Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography and Cardiac Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: An Update from the American Society of Echocardiography, provides clarification on the scope of targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE) versus cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (cPOCUS) to ensure that practitioners use these skills in accordance with approved indications. The guideline replaces the document originally published by ASE in 2011 and has been expanded to provide recommendations for cPOCUS, including:
- Guidance on the purpose and rationale for TNE and cPOCUS.
- Disease and/or clinical scenario-based indications for TNE.
- Training and competency-based evaluative requirements for TNE and cPOCUS.
- Components of quality assurance.
Chair of the guideline writing group Patrick McNamara, MD, FASE, says that he anticipates the updated guideline will enable more institutions to establish TNE or cPOCUS programs, generate new research, and continue to encourage collaborations between neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists.
“Close collaboration with pediatric echocardiography laboratories and the support of thought leaders in the field have resulted in the success of TNE and the establishment of neonatal hemodynamics programs. We must also acknowledge the pivotal role of Luc Mertens, MD, PhD, FASE, who chaired the original guideline writing group on this topic 13 years ago, for prompting the growth and evolution of the field of neonatal hemodynamics,” he adds.
Both guideline documents are published in the February 2024 issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. All guidelines published by ASE are available at ASEcho.org/Guidelines.
About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. Both the pediatric and neonatal echocardiography specialized areas are represented in ASE’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council and the Neonatal Hemodynamics TnECHO Specialty Interest Group. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit the ASE website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
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