Impact of Preoperative Echocardiograms on In-Hospital Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Surgical Hip Fracture Repair and Their Clinical Appropriateness

Abstract

The utility of preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) before hip fracture repair remains controversial. This is a retrospective chart review study of adult patients admitted with hip fractures from multiple sites, including tertiary and community hospitals, with teaching and nonteaching services. The study compared the length of stay, time to surgery, in-hospital mortality, and postoperative complications between TTE and non-TTE groups. TTE patients were risk stratified using the Revised Cardiac Risk Index to compare TTE indications according to contemporary guidelines.