The role of echocardiography in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a compromise among appropriateness, safety and clinical impact

SARS-CoV-2 infection, responsible for COVID-19, can determine cardiac events, which require a quick diagnosis and management, and should not be overlooked due to the presence of COVID-19 infection. In some cases, cardiovascular symptoms can also be the first and only manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infe...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mario Pacileo, Francesco Giallauria, Cristina Savarese, Teresa Cirillo, Fabio Crescibene, Anna Di Lorenzo, Mariacarla Ferrillo, Maria Grazia Calabrese, Carlo Vigorito, Antonello D'Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PAGEPress Publications 2020-05-01
Series:Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/1358
Description
Summary:SARS-CoV-2 infection, responsible for COVID-19, can determine cardiac events, which require a quick diagnosis and management, and should not be overlooked due to the presence of COVID-19 infection. In some cases, cardiovascular symptoms can also be the first and only manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In patients with COVID-19, the full cardiovascular disease diagnostic algorithm can be hindered by logistic restrain mainly derived from the difficulty of transporting patients in critical conditions to Radiology or Hemodynamics wards. The echocardiography in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can help for differential diagnosis of cardiac events, which can be related or unrelated by the infection and can likely impact on short-term prognosis. Indeed, transthoracic echocardiography plays a key role in the screen for CV complications of COVID-19 infection: it must be focused cardiac ultrasound study (FoCUS) performed at bedside. All transthoracic, transesophageal and stress echocardiograms in patients in which test results are unlikely to change the management strategy should be postponed.
ISSN:1122-0643
2532-5264