Cardiac ultrasound.

The use of echocardiography in the ED is well established and continues to gain widespread use in the evaluation of critically ill patients. In certain circumstances such as chest trauma, pericardial effusion, and cardiac arrest,EPs can perform and interpret echocardiographic examinations reliably. In other circumstances such as the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, PE,and endocarditis, the EP should be aware of the uses and limitations of echocardiography and obtain appropriate consultation when necessary.Academic- and community-based EPs should seek to incorporate further the use of echocardiography in their respective clinical practices, with special attention given to training and quality assurance. As EPs continue to improve their skills in cardiac ultrasound, their ability to diagnose a wider spectrum of cardiac diseases undoubtedly will grow proportionally.