COMPUTER-ASSISTED INTERACTIVE INTERPRETATION OF CLINICAL ECHOCARDIOGRAMS.

In order to facilitate interpretation, teaching, reporting, and research in echocardiography, a computer-assisted system has been developed. No computer expertise is required of the user who, upon instructions from a terminal, enters both quantitative and qualitative data using a digitizing pen. Data are processed and stored in a 100 word record which is used by a reporting program to generate a clinical report including measurements and abnormal findings. A conclusion section generated by the use of multiple decision trees is undergoing development. A full analysis and report can be done in less than 7 minutes. This approach increases efficiency in echo reporting, allows for better teaching and research, and generates an echo data base.