Over the past decade, there have been sustained increases in utilization and costs of echocardiographic procedures. As a result, concerns have been raised about potential overuse or misuse of echocardiography. Appropriateness criteria (AC) represent a physician-directed effort to define appropriate utilization of cardiac imaging procedures. Recent studies of the AC for echocardiography suggest they can be feasibly applied and can successfully stratify appropriate clinical practice of echocardiography. ASE has provided this page as a resource for physicians who want to find out more about the Appropriate Use Criteria for Transthoracic, Transesophageal, and Stress Echocardiography.
Appropriateness Criteria for TTE and TEE - Online Lecture
Lawrence Rudski, M.D.
Director of Fellowship, Cardiovascular Division,
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Session time: approximately 1 hour - Original Release Date: 5/15/2009 Expiration Date: 5/15/2012
Additional Resources from ASE regarding Appropriateness Criteria for Echocardiography
ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2007 Appropriateness Criteria for Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography
A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Quality Strategic Directions Committee Appropriateness Criteria Working Group, American Society of Echocardiography, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Endorsed by the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. (6/07) Full-Text PDF
Download A PDA Version of the Guideline:
Windows Pocket PC
Palm (Windows Install)
Palm (Mac Install)
Desktop Install
ACCF/ASE/ACEP/AHA/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2008 Appropriateness Criteria for Stress Echocardiography
A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Appropriateness Criteria Task Force, American Society of Echocardiography, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Heart Association, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society and Society of Critical Care Medicine. (3/08) Full-Text PDF
Appropriateness Criteria Pocket Guides
This laminated pocket-sized guide lists 55 appropriate and inappropriate reasons to order an echocardiogram. Based on the "ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2007 Appropriateness Criteria for Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography". Available in packages of 35 cards.
