| Patient positioning |
Supine or Semi-recumbent (30–45°): Optimal for ICU or ED patients. |
| Left lateral decubitus: Preferred in stable patients to optimize imaging windows. |
|
| Head of bed may be elevated slightly to improve visualization in dyspneic patients. |
|
| Supplies needed |
No special supplies needed |
| Probe |
Phased Array Transducer |
| Frequency: 1–5 MHz |
|
| Small footprint allows access between ribs |
|
| Optimized for deep penetration needed to visualize cardiac structures |
|
| Normal findings |
Symmetric LV wall motion with inward thickening |
| LV cavity visibly reduces in size during systole (≥50%) |
|
| No regional wall motion abnormalities |
|
| Normal EF ≈ 52–74% depending on gender (chart provided below) |
|
| Sensitivity & specificity |
Visual (eyeball) EF: |
| Sensitivity: ~80–90% for detecting reduced EF |
|
| Specificity: ~85–95% |
|
| Contraindications |
None |
| Alternate diagnostic modalities |
Formal transthoracic echo (TTE): Gold standard |
| Transesophageal echo (TEE): Best in intubated/poor-window patients |
|
| Cardiac MRI: Gold standard for volumetric EF |
|
| Nuclear scans (MUGA): Rarely used |
|