Transthoracic echocardiography in obstetric anaesthesia and obstetric XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3124 @entity551 @entity65
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a powerful non-invasive diagnostic, monitoring and measurement device in medicine. In addition to cardiologists, many other specialised groups, including emergency and critical care physicians and cardiac anaesthetists, have recognised its ability to provide high quality information and utilise TTE in the care of their @entity1 . In obstetric anaesthesia and management of obstetric @entity3124 , the favourable characteristics of pregnant @entity1 facilitate TTE examination. These include anterior and left lateral displacement of the heart, frequent employment of the left lateral tilted position to avoid aortocaval compression, spontaneous ventilation and wide acceptance of ultrasound technology by @entity1 . Of relevance to obstetric anaesthetists is that maternal morbidity and mortality due to @entity65 is significant worldwide. This makes TTE an appropriate, important and applicable device in pregnant @entity1 . Clinician-performed TTE enables differentiation between the life-threatening causes of @entity551 . In the critically ill @entity1 this improves diagnostic accuracy and allows treatment interventions to be instituted and monitored at the point of @entity1 care. This article outlines the application of TTE in the specialty of obstetric anaesthesia and in the management of obstetric @entity3124 . It describes the importance of TTE education, quality assurance and outcome recording. It also discusses how barriers to the routine implementation of TTE in obstetric anaesthesia and management of obstetric @entity3124 can be overcome.
