Transthoracic and Transesophageal ECHO (TTE and TEE) in COVID-19 patients - safety constraints for health care personnel
It is prudent to consider the risks of exposure of healthcare personnel while performing TTE and TEE in patients with COVID-19. Despite studies demonstrating that health care workers have a significantly higher risk of acquiring COVID-19 due to increased workplace exposure to patients [13], the data regarding the incidence of COVID-19 among ECHO sonographers is scarce.
In a recent cross-sectional study that surveyed sonographers in major academic centers in New York (NY,USA), it was found that there was an infrequent use of plastic ECHO machine covers (9%), barriers between the patient and sonographer (11%) and probe covers (30%) during the procedure. In addition, about a quarter of respondents reported a lack of training in disinfection practices of ultrasound equipment[14]. Such findings highlight the need for more stringent adherence to the ASE and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine’s guidelines for protection of patients and ECHO providers to safeguard this vulnerable population[15].