Echocardiography and the neonatologist

Echocardiographic assessment can be broadly divided into functional and structural assessment. Functional echocardiography in the hands of an appropriately trained neonatologist is an accessible and useful modality in the neonatal intensive care unit. This tool allows the neonatologist to assess various parameters, e.g. ventricular outputs and SVC flow, ventricular function, pulmonary pressures and ductus arteriosus and implement immediate management as result. It is essential that there is support from the paediatric cardiologist to prevent misdiagnosis of congenital heart disease and implement further management.