Dual-source computed tomographic analysis is an accurate and noninvasive tool for delineating coronary artery anatomy before surgical intervention in children with tetralogy of Fallot. Dual-source computed tomographic analysis might deserve to be used routinely instead of angiographic analysis and in combination with echocardiographic analysis for the preoperative assessment of patients with tetralogy of Fallot.
Background: The MELODY system allows for performing ultrasonography on a patient remotely and has been proposed to assess disease characteristics in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The aim of this interventional crossover study was to address the feasibility of the system in children aged 1 to 10 years old.Methods: Children underwent ultrasonography with a telerobotic ultrasound system followed by a second conventional examination by a different sonographer.Results: In total, 38 children were enrolled, and 76 examinations were performed, with 76 scans analyzed.The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of participants was 5.7 (2.7) years (range, 1-10 years). We found substantial agreement between telerobotic and conventional ultrasonography [魏=0.74 (95% CI: 0.53-0.94), P<0.005]. The mean (SD) duration was longer for telerobotic than conventional examinations [26.0 (2.5) vs. 13.9 (11.2) min, P<0.0001]. Abdominal organs and abnormalities were similarly visualized on telerobotic and conventional ultrasonography. Cardiac echocardiography provided reliable diagnoses, with nonsignificantly different measurements with both techniques, although the visualization score was significantly higher with conventional than telerobotic ultrasonography (P<0.05). On lung analysis, both examinations identified consolidations and pleural effusion, whereas visualization and total lung score were similar with the 2 techniques. Overall, 45% of parents reported that their children felt less pressure with the telerobotic system.Conclusions: Telerobotic ultrasonography may be effective, feasible, and well tolerated in children.
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