Eighty patients (43 M, 37 F), aged 23-89 years who were referred for e
mergency echocardiography over a 12-month period were prospectively st
udied in order to determine the reasons for emergency echocardiography
and the influence of its results on patient management. The most freq
uent emergency request was to clarify whether the basis for cardiomega
ly in a haemodynamically unstable patient was pericardial effusion or
left ventricular dilatation. Other reasons for requests were for asses
sment for source of systemic emboli, acute complications of myocardial
infarction, endocarditis, valve dysfunction and cardiac trauma. As a
consequence of the emergency echocardiography, management was immediat
ely influenced in 19 patients. This study has provided information on
the specific settings in which emergency echocardiography can be justi
fied.