RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical situations motivating indications of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in a cardiology institute in Côte d'Ivoire and to assess the appropriateness of indications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective and observational study conducted over a period of 6 months. The 1733 enrolled were classified according to the indications and their relevance defined by the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriate Use Criteria Task Force, the American Society of Echocardiography and the American Heart Association (ACCF/ASE/AHA). RESULTS: In five cases (0.3%), indications were not listed in the document ACCF/ASE/AHA. The most common indication was the initial evaluation of hypertension (HTA) and suspicion of hypertensive heart disease (47.3%). All indications, the assessment in the context of hypertension represented 853 examinations (49.2%). Heart failure accounted for 5.3% of indications, but consisted of 302 applications (17.4%) when was associated hypertension with signs suggestive of heart failure. Requests were considered as appropriate in 95.3%, inappropriate in 3.2% and uncertain in 1.6%. In the group of inappropriate indications patients were significantly younger, and were examinations more often normal and less often absolutely abnormal. CONCLUSION: The profile of cardiovascular morbidity in our institution is dominated by the spectrum of hypertension and heart failure. Each indication must be balanced for the profitability of the ETT.
