Initial experience with a 5G cellular network and robotic arm-based remote echocardiographic system in an all-comers setting

Abstract

Abstract Background Echocardiography is the test-of-choice for the initial evaluation of many cardiac diseases and requires expertise that is often limited in rural area. Robotic arm-assisted remote echocardigram has been attampted for teleconsultation but was limited to heart failure patients(ref), primarily due to the network delay in telecommunication and the subsequent incoordination in robotic arm control. Purpose We aim to assess the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of a 5G cellular network and robotic arm-based remote echocardiographic system in an all-comers setting. Methods 51 pts were enrolled from the outpatient cardiology clinic of our institute. All pts underwent standard comprehensive echocardiography on a 5G cellular network and robotic arm-based remote echocardiographic system (the robotic part was deployed at our hospital and the control part was located at another campus 20 kilometers away) (Figure 1)and a conventional echocardiographic platform (at our hospital) successively. The order in which patients were examined on the remote and conventional instruments was randomly determined. There was no interval between the two examinations, and examinations of the same patient were performed by experienced but different cardiologists, who were blinded to each other’s diagnosis. The doctor who used the remote system was also randomly allocated and had not been previously specifically trained. The exams were real-time and diagnoses were made right after the exams. Results Of the 51 pts, the image quality was sufficient for diagnosis in 50 patients (48% female, 40±18 years). 1 pt was excluded because some key views could not be obtained using the remote system (98% of exams successful). 17 pts had positive findings, including 10 with a primary diagnosis of valvulopathy (1 Barlow's syndrome, 1 bicuspid aortic valve and 8 less-than-moderate regurgitation), 2 cardiac surgery follow-ups (1 case of aortic valve replacement and septal myectomy, and 1 case of mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty), and 2 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (including 1 case of obstruction at papillary muscle level), 2 with abnormal left ventricular wall motion(including 1 case of apical mural thrombus) (Figure 2), and 1 with congenital heart disease (secumdum atrial septal defect). The main diagnosis was consistent in 98% of cases (papillary muscle level obstruction was missed in one case), using conventional echocardiographic findings as the standard. Time for image acquision using remote echocardiography was significantly longer than conventional one (24 minutes 36 seconds ± 4 minutes 52 seconds vs. 16 minutes 15 seconds ± 1 minute 54 seconds, p<0.0001, paired t-test). Conclusions Comprehensive echocardiographic exam with a 5G cellular network and robotic arm-based remote system is feasible with relatively good diagnostic accuracy.Figure 1Figure 2