The Impact of a Handheld Ultrasound Device in a Rheumatic Heart Disease Screening Program in Ethiopia

Zachary P. Kaltenborn; Anteneh Zewde; Jonathan D. Kirsch; Michelle Yates; Katelyn M. Tessier; Eileen Nemec; Ronald A. Johannsen – Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects 33 million people in low and middle income countries and is the leading cause of cardiovascular death among children and young adults. Penicillin prophylaxis prevents progression in asymptomatic disease. Efforts to expand echocardiographic screening are focusing on simplified protocols, non-physician ultrasonographers, and portable ultrasound devices, including handheld ultrasound. Recent advances support the use of single-view screening protocols. With the increasing availability and low cost of handheld devices, studies are needed to evaluate their performance in these settings.