TTE FOCUS Views vs EchoRef

In the practice of anesthesia, critical care and emergency medicine there is often a need for a quick, qualitative assessment of cardiac function. Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FOCUS) is the process of carrying out this rapid qualitative assessment by practitioners in these fields. Training for carrying out a FOCUS assessment requires practitioners to understand the 3D structures of the heart that are seen in the 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) image. We have created this interactive application to assist with teaching and learning the assessment of normal and pathologic cardiac function with FOCUS. FOCUS assessments are based on a subset of 5 of the 20 standard TTE views: Parasternal long axis Parasternal short axis Apical four chamber Subcostal four chamber Subcostal inferior vena cava Users can view the TTE recordings for each of the 5 FOCUS views and see a corresponding 3D model of the probe, ultrasound plane, heart and rib cage for each view. Each FOCUS view can be selected from a menu at the left of the screen, or by using arrow buttons to go to the next or previous view in the list. For each view, the 3D model of the probe, ultrasound plane, heart and rib cage can be rotated in the horizontal or vertical plane to view it from any angle. The rib cage can be removed, the part of the heart above the echo plane can be removed, and the heart model can be oriented so the structures correspond to the TTE image. This module reviews the use of FOCUS to assess pericardial abnormalities of localised effusion and tamponade and their effect on cardiac function. *NOTE: This app has not yet been updated to include the right ventricle, left ventricle and hypovolemic pathologies found on the website. http://pie.med.utoronto.ca/TTE/TTE_content/focus.html

Echocardiography and point-of-care ultrasound organized for the bedside. EchoRef is a comprehensive echocardiography and ultrasound reference for physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, sonographers, medical students, and other healthcare learners. Review TEE, TTE, and POCUS videos, check cardiac measurements and diagnostic criteria, evaluate native and prosthetic valves, and perform commonly used ultrasound and hemodynamic calculations, all in one focused reference. FEATURES • Educational video library covering 2D and 3D TEE, interventional echocardiography, mechanical circulatory support, and clinical cases • POCUS instruction for cardiac, lung, abdominal, vascular, and peripheral nerve block examinations • Cardiac anatomy measurements and reference values for chamber size, ventricular function, diastology, and vascular structures • Native valve assessment for aortic, mitral, tricuspid, and pulmonic stenosis and regurgitation • Prosthetic valve reference for surgical valves, TAVR, and prosthesis evaluation • Ultrasound and hemodynamic calculators for valve area, cardiac output, ventricular function, filling pressures, vascular resistance, shunts, fluid responsiveness, and more • Cardiac equations, hemodynamic reference values, and ultrasound physics • Clinical protocols, focused examination guidance, findings atlas, and reporting documentation • Acquisition guidance, measurement tips, common pitfalls, and related clinical content • Global search, favorites, related links, and personal notes EchoRef connects ultrasound physics, image acquisition, echocardiographic interpretation, and bedside decision-making. Whether you are learning standard views, reviewing an unfamiliar finding, evaluating valve disease, or checking a calculation, the app makes relevant information easy to find. Created by Rishi Kumar, MD, FACC (“RK.MD”), an academic adult cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and cardiovascular ICU intensivist committed to free, open-access medical education. Learn more at https://rk.md EchoRef is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional judgment, diagnosis, or treatment. Clinical findings and calculations must be independently verified and interpreted in the context of the individual patient. Seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition. Do not disregard or delay professional medical advice because of information provided by this app.