Echocardiography is a technique within neonatal care increasingly used in acute management of patients because of its potential to guide care and hemodynamic management. However, its use continues to provoke controversy, as it was originally within the purview of pediatric cardiologists trained to identify structural as well as functional heart disease. This article examines some of the echocardiographic techniques available to the neonatologist, their applications, and the concerns surrounding their use on neonatal units.
Keywords: Ductus arteriosus; Echocardiography; Functional; Neonatal; Point-of-care ultrasound; Preterm; Targeted.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.