Focus Topic: Echocardiography in the COVID-19 Pandemic
ASE Statement on Protection of Patients and Echocardiography Service Providers During the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: Endorsed by the American College of Cardiology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.002Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • ASE guidance for patient and provider protection during echo exams in the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Triaging approach for prioritizing echo exams during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Recommended imaging approach and appropriate PPE use during echo exams.

Key Words

ASE
COVID-19
Protection statement

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This paper is being published simultaneously in JASE: Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

This document is endorsed by the following American Society of Echocardiography International Alliance Partners: Argentine Federation of Cardiology, Argentine Society of Cardiology, ASEAN Society of Echocardiography, Asian-Pacific Association of Echocardiography, Australasian Sonographers Association, Canadian Society of Echocardiography,Cardiovascular Imaging Society of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (SISIAC), Chinese Society of Echocardiography, Department of Cardiovascular Imaging of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Echocardiography Section of the Cuban Society of Cardiology, Indian Academy of Echocardiography, Indian Association of Cardiovascular Thoracic Anaesthesiologists, Indonesian Society of Echocardiography, Iranian Society of Echocardiography, Israel Working Group on Echocardiography, Japanese Society of Echocardiography, Korean Society of Echocardiography, Mexican Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SOME-ic), National Society of Echocardiography of Mexico (SONECOM), Philippine Society of Echocardiography, Saudi Arabian Society of Echocardiography, Thai Society of Echocardiography, Venezuelan Society of Cardiology - Echocardiography Section, and Vietnamese Society of Echocardiography.

Notice and Disclaimer: This statement reflects recommendations based on expert opinion, national guidelines, and available evidence. Our knowledge with regard to COVID-19 continues to evolve, as do our institutional protocols for dealing with invasive and noninvasive procedures and practice of personal protective equipment. Readers are urged to follow national guidelines and their institutional recommendations regarding best practices to protect their patients and themselves. These reports are made available by the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) as a courtesy reference source for its members. The reports contain recommendations only and should not be used as the sole basis to make medical practice decisions or for disciplinary action against any employee. The statements and recommendations contained in these reports are primarily based on the opinions of experts, rather than on scientifically verified data. ASE makes no express or implied warranties regarding the completeness or accuracy of the information in these reports, including the warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall ASE be liable to you, your patients, or any other third parties for any decision made or action taken by you or such other parties in reliance on this information. Nor does your use of this information constitute the offering of medical advice by ASE or create any physician-patient relationship between ASE and your patients or anyone else.

Conflicts of interest: None.