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echoes®: tele-ultrasound refines diagnosis
With the echoes® program, doctors in 12 countries have access to the expertise of French pediatric cardiologists via tele-echography. This innovative system saves lives, trains caregivers and opens up new perspectives for children suffering from complex cardiac pathologies.
To provide specialist advice in areas where access to care is limited, La Chaîne de l’Espoir has developed an innovative solution. Since 2015, the echoes® program program has enabled the association’s pediatric cardiology experts to remotely accompany local doctors in twelve countries* during live ultrasound sessions every week.
In practical terms, the doctor on site performs the cardiac ultrasound on the child, while the images are transmitted in real time to experts in France, enabling immediate collaborative diagnosis. This system is particularly valuable in countries where paediatric cardiology expertise is scarce. It helps refine diagnoses and save lives.
In 2024, 87 echoes® sessions were organized, benefiting 482 children. In addition to immediate diagnosis, echoes® helps to strengthen local skills. Participating doctors benefit from an ongoing training program, with around 10 online sessions per year.
These two-hour courses alternate theory and practical case studies.
An ambitious outlook
This year, the program will continue to expand. After Africa and the Middle East, echoes® is about to be deployed in Ukraine, where transmission boxes are already in place. This growth is accompanied by a technological evolution with the adoption of the Rofim platform.
This new interface will enhance exchanges between doctors, facilitating patient follow-up and consultation on complex cases. In addition to cardiology, the program plans to extend to other medical specialties. Gynecology, which has already been tried out in the past, could be redeployed, extending access to medical expertise to the populations who need it most.
* Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Jordan, Madagascar, Niger, Togo.
2 questions to
Dr Philippe Adjagba, Head of Adult and Pediatric Cardiology at CHU de la Mère et de l’Enfant Lagune, Cotonou (Benin)
How can echoes® help you in your daily practice?
In Benin, there are very few trained cardiopediatricians. echoes® enables us to obtain expert opinions that are essential for refining our diagnoses. Since 2015, we have examined a significant number of children, and more than fifty have been operated on in France thanks to this program. The sessions take place on video, enabling instant transmission of images and live exchange with our counterparts. This collegial work is invaluable for confirming our diagnoses and, above all, for identifying cases requiring surgery abroad.
What’s the impact on Benin’s children?
The impact is enormous for the Beninese children who benefit from this program. It’s the hope of having a chance of surgical treatment for pathologies that can’t be operated on locally in Benin. I particularly remember a young patient suffering from heart disease with an unopened pulmonary valve. Initially, I would not have given priority to her case, as it is a very serious and complex pathology for which there was little hope. But thanks to the echoes® session, she was identified and operated on. Today, she goes to school and leads a normal life. For our team of six cardiologists, three of whom specialize in pediatrics, it’s also a valuable opportunity for ongoing training and skill enhancement.
