Saudi Arabian Society of Echocardiography Recommendations for Echocardiography Service During Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

Ghazal, Sami; Qaddoura, Fatima; Kinsara, Abdulhalim; Omran, Ahmed; Atiyah, Merna; Al Refae, Mustafa; Dalak, Faisal; Ahmari, Saeed Al; Al Sehly, Abdullah; Sahal, Noureldin; Onazi, Ahmed; Bader, Rima

We are summarizing the recommendations for the use of Echocardiography in patients during COVID-19 pandemic. The patient risk for COVID-19 should be assessed according to the Saudi CDC guidelines. Echocardiography should only be performed of considered appropriate and will likely alter the clinical decision. In COVID-19 suspected/confirmed patients, echocardiography study should be performed bedside and in infection control approved area with airborne precaution. Limited focused imaging is recommended to minimize contact time. A dedicated machine for COVID-19 suspected/confirmed cases is recommended. Transesophageal echocardiography is considered an aerosol generating procedure; therefore, an alternative modality should be strongly considered. In COVID-19 suspected/confirmed patients, a transesophageal echocardiogram should be done only under strict airborne precaution. In low risk patient for COVID-19, Transesophageal echocardiography should be done with a minimum of droplet precaution, however; N95 respirator is preferred to surgical mask in this situation.