Echocardiography Laboratory Requirements
This document provides guidelines for resources required by echocardiography
laboratories to provide a laboratory that is safe for patients and staff.
Adult Transthoracic Lab Setup
Staff:
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Echocardiologists (Medical Director)
Qualified Sonographers (Technical Director)
Clerical staff
Lab/Office Manager
Biomedical services
Information Technology support staff/service
Housekeeping staff
Rooms:
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Room sizes must meet the requirement of the “Guidelines for the Provision of
Echocardiography in Canada.” The government standard for the minimum
size of a transthoracic echo room is 15m2 within the patient care area.
A hand wash sink is required in the room.
Equipment:
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Ultrasound machines – current updates applied
Probes – 3.5 Mhz, 5 Mhz
Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope/ Vital Signs Monitor
Echo beds with cutouts
Ergonomic chair for Sonographer
Contrast agitator machine
Refrigerator to store contrast
Work stations/desk
Photocopier / fax machine
Computers
Phones or emergency call bell system in all rooms
Emergency cart
Medical oxygen supply (portable tank or piped in) with Flow meter
Lamps
Supplies:
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Ultrasound Gel
Electrodes
Alcohol wipes
T spray or other transducer cleaner
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Sanitizing wipes (for bed, B/P cuff, etc.)
IV angiocaths for contrast and agitated saline injections
3 way stopcock
Medical Tape
Tegaderm
Gauze 2x2 and 4x4
Tourniquet
IV Solutions (Normal saline and D5W)
IV pole
Basic IV tubing
10 and 3 ml syringes
Needles (18/21 gauge)
Contrast
Sterile probe covers
Oxygen tubing
Oxygen face Masks
Office supplies and stationary
Laundry basket(s)
Hand sanitizer
Medical Exam Gloves(latex free)
Sharps containers
Waste baskets
Isolations gowns
Face mask (N95)
Eye protection(safety glasses; goggles; face shields; visors attached to
masks)
Medications:
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Anaphylaxis Kit
Linen:
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Bed sheets
Pillow cases
Paper cover for procedure bed
Patient Gowns
Towels
Isolation gowns
Paperwork:
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Reports
Requisitions
Worksheet
Transesophageal Echo Lab Setup **Additional to the TTE lab
Staff:
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Registered Nurse or Anesthesia Assistant
Anesthesiologist
Room:
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The “Guidelines for the Provision of Echocardiography in Canada”
recommends the TEE room size is larger than the transthoracic echo room
(15m2) in order to accommodate potential emergency situations. CCN
recommends a minimum of 18.6m2.
A sink that is large enough to rinse TEE probes, and a cleaning station
separate from the scanning room – with ventilation.
Locked and secure cabinet for anesthetic agents; narcotics
Equipment:
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Ultrasound machine with 3D capabilities
TEE probes
TEE probe cleaning station
12 lead monitor
Eye wash station
Suction unit and equipment
Storage unit for TEE probes
Vital signs monitor(BP; HR; O2)
Supplies:
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Medication cups
K basins
Denture cups
Suction tubing
Suction catheter
Bite guards
Airway protective devices
Sterilization solution
Medications:
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Midazolam
Fentanyl
Propofol (or whatever used in your lab to sedate)
Naloxone
Lidocaine viscous
Lidocaine spray
Resuscitation medications (kept in Emergency Cart)
Linen:
Same as above
Paperwork:
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TEE Consent forms
TEE worksheet
TEE pre test Anesthesia checklist
Requisition with indication
Medical history sheet
Pre printed orders
Sterilization log
Stress Lab Setup ** Additional to the TTE lab
Staff:
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ECG Technician
Registered Nurse or Physician in the room
Room:
The stress lab requires the largest of the rooms because of the equipment
required. A patient care area of 15m2 – 18.6m2 is recommended. In order to
provide a safe environment for the patient, configuration of the space is most
important. A safe and easy transfer from the treadmill to the bed is vital.
Equipment:
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Treadmill and 12 lead monitor
Oxygen saturation monitor
Special echo bed with cutouts
IV infusion pump
Recumbent bike with special echocardiography bed
Ultrasound machine with stress program (DSE preset, TM and bike
continuous capture presets)
Patient Weight scale
Supplies:
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Abrasive tape
Razors
IV 50 ml mini bags D5W and Normal saline
IV pump tubing with secondary lines
Disposable boot covers
Linen:
Same as TTE
Medications:
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Dobutamine vials 250 mg/20 ml
Atropine
Metoprolol
Nitroglycerine spray
Naloxone
Paperwork:
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Worksheets for each of the stress procedures
Dobutamine dosage guide
Consent forms
Preprinted orders
Requisitions with indications and history