Ultra help for hearts

AUSTRALIAN researchers hope lung ultrasounds could provide a quick, easy and less invasive way to diagnose heart failure in elderly patients plagued by shortness of breath.

Now in its final stages, the Queensland study recruited 400 patients for a clinical trial to explore how the ultrasound method compared to the more traditional chest x-ray.

Lead researcher Dr Kylie Baker said emergency department doctors could correctly pinpoint the right condition within three minutes using the ultrasound technique.