Author/Authors :
Kirkpatrick، نويسنده , , James N. and Belka، نويسنده , , Vicki and Furlong، نويسنده , , Kathy and Balasia، نويسنده , , Beth and Jacobs، نويسنده , , Larry D. and Corcoran، نويسنده , , Matt and Anderson، نويسنده , , Allen S. and Pastoret، نويسنده , , Anne and Spencer، نويسنده , , Kirk T.، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
Recognizing left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is critical. The investigators sought to evaluate whether nurses could be trained to use a hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) device to screen for LV systolic dysfunction in high-risk patients. Sixty-three patients from an outpatient diabetes clinic underwent brief echocardiographic examinations by nurses using HCU devices. Of the 63 patients enrolled in the study, 3 (4.7%) had LV systolic dysfunction. The nurses correctly identified these 3 patients as having LV systolic dysfunction (sensitivity 100%, negative predictive value 100%). The identification of occult LV systolic dysfunction in diabetic patients may allow the initiation of therapies known to improve prognosis.
