Limitations of free-form-text diagnostic requisitions as a tool for evaluating adherence to appropriate use criteria for transthoracic echocardiography

Table 2 Most common specific indications for transthoracic echocardiography*

AUC indication no.	Description	Number of requisitions (% of population)
58	Suspected cardiovascular source of embolus	162 (12.4)
1	Symptoms or conditions potentially related to suspected cardiac etiology	134 (10.3)
34	Initial evaluation when there is a reasonable suspicion of valvular or structural heart disease	72 (5.5)
5	Sustained or non-sustained atrial fibrillation, SVT, or VT	64 (4.9)
37	Re-evaluation of valvular heart disease with a change in clinical status or cardiac exam or to guide therapy	64 (4.9)
24	Initial evaluation of ventricular function following ACS	53 (4.1)
70	Initial evaluation of known or suspected HF (systolic or diastolic) based on symptoms, signs, or abnormal test results	51 (3.9)
2	Prior testing that is concerning for heart disease or structural abnormality	42 (3.2)

*Specific indication number and associated descriptions are based on the ACCF 2011 AUC for Echocardiography [9].
[AUC = appropriate use criteria].

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