Validation of an Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Identifying Echocardiographic Reference Views. Ultrasound - Cardiac Acquisition Guide

Summary

Echocardiography is the examination of choice for the study of cardiac pathologies. Beyond its use by cardiologists, the interest of echocardiography for other medical specialties has already been demonstrated, in particular in intensive care in the case of haemodynamic failure, or in intra and extra hospital emergency medicine for the initial assessment of chest pain or dyspnoea.

Echocardiography also plays a major role in screening for heart disease, particularly valvular heart disease. In countries with very limited access to echocardiography, there is a major under-diagnosis of heart valve disease, including rheumatic fever, which affects 30 million people and causes 305,000 deaths worldwide. As this is a global public health problem, recommendations were drafted in 2012 to organise and facilitate echocardiographic screening of populations at risk.

The expansion of the use of echocardiography has been catalysed by the miniaturisation of ultrasound systems and the reduction in their price. Recently, probes directly connected to a tablet or phone have been developed at a limited cost.

It is therefore possible to consider these ultrasound scanners as the new stethoscope that could be used by any health professional.

In order to be effective, the last limit to this democratisation is the training, and in particular that of non-specialists (i.e. non-cardiologists).

Echocardiography remains an examination that requires anatomical knowledge and practice. Performing an echocardiogram involves visualising the heart from different points on the chest. The three main points are in the left paraspinal area, at the apex of the heart and under the sternum. From these areas, the operator must obtain several reference views which are strictly defined in order to be able to correctly observe the different cardiac structures and make comparable measurements from one examination and clinician to another.

It is therefore necessary first of all to learn how to handle the probe and to be able to obtain the reference views. The morphology of the patient, the shape of the thorax, the exact position of the heart, the movements of the heart according to the position of the patient and his breathing are all elements to be taken into account and make each examination different from the previous one.

Conditions

• Cardiac Disease

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Ultrasound - Cardiac Acquisition

The evaluation of the algorithm takes place on patients with an indication for echocardiography. This examination is done in a standard way with the potential specific explorations related to the indication of the examination. During the echocardiography, the operator records the search phase for the following reference views: * Parasternal window (Parasternal long axis, Parasternal minor axis) * Apical window (Apical 4 cavities, Apical 3 cavities, Apical 2 cavities * Sub costal window, Sub costal 4 cavities, Inferior vena cava)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Bordeaux

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Stéphane LAFITTE, MD PhD · University Hospital, Bordeaux

• Bertrand MOAL · DESKi

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-06-19

Primary Completion

2020-08-11

Completion

2020-08-11

Countries

• France

Study Locations