The use of automation and semi-automation in echocardiography has already been implemented in 3D echocardiography, strain imaging, and other specific echocardiography acquisitions in an attempt to increase efficiency and reproducibility 6, 7. By implementing automated and standardized protocols for TEE image acquisition, efficiency and reproducibility of TEE may improve as has been demonstrated in other US modalities. Thus far, no studies have examined the use of automation driven protocols in TEE imaging acquisition.
In this study, we evaluated an automated workflow protocol system for TEE compared with a manual acquisition protocol. We hypothesized that an automated TEE imaging protocol improves study efficiency and workflow compared with a manual protocol.