Preoperative Pocket Echocardiography Trial

This study will compare findings using a handheld ultrasound device (GE VScan) with those using a diagnostic ultrasound machine in adult patients referred for transthoracic echo (TTE), prior to non-cardiac surgery at Hammersmith Hospital, London. The handheld TTE (VTTE) will follow the standard Hammersmith Hospital diagnostic TTE (DTTE) protocol (with the exception of spectral Doppler) and will be reported on a simple 'tick box' form. A different echocardiographer will then perform and report the DTTE as per routine practice. The results from VTTE and DTTE will be directly compared. The echocardiographers performing the VTTE and DTTE are all fully accredited in diagnostic TTE and will be blinded to each others findings. The study aims to recruit a total of 96 patients with an anticipated study completion date of November 2015.