News and Events

iHeart Scan 2016

Echocardiography has seen a meteoric rise in use in ultrasound since the mid-1990s in Australia and around the world. The use of ultrasound to guide procedures has been used extensively by Radiologists for years, but in recent times Anaesthetists, Intensivists and Emergency Department Physicians have embraced the technology.

Limited echocardiography is not a totally new concept. There are publications looking at the use of limited echocardiography to assess volume or systolic function or as a screening tool to rule out severe aortic stenosis. Haemodynamic state assessment is a concept that has been championed through the Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in

Clinical Ultrasound (see www.heartweb.com.au) in Australia.

The goal is to strike a balance between “too little and too much” by analysing the important information needed for the critical care environment, in order to influence how to manage patients.

Haemodynamic state assessment is really the “bread and butter” of echo information. The information will be used in 90% of clinical situations to change the management. However, haemodynamic state is not enough to fully categorise the problem. Findings of haemodynamically important valve lesions such as severe aortic stenosis, will also lead us to change management.

iHeartscan is promoting the concept of limited transthoracic echocardiography to perform Haemodynamic Echocardiography Assessment in Real Time, or iHeartScan™ for short. The study should take about 5 minutes once you gain more experience through practice.

Faculty for the workshop are, Dr Shashikanth Manikappa, Director, Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Southeast sector, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia is the Course Director for iHeartscan in India. Other Faculty are Dr B G R Prasad, Director, Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine, Rockingham Hospital, Perth; and Dr David with immense experience in Echocardiography.

Prof. Dr Sahajananda is the Course Coordinator.