Background: Coronay artery disease is the main cause of death in Colombia and worldwide in older than 45 years old (1, 2). With the change in the epidemiological profile is expected to increase the prevalence and cost, decreasing mortality. In the diagnosis of coronary heart disease study, multiple tests are performed paraclinical, within these, echocardiography is widely used and its use recommendations are based on studies of more than 10 years ago (3). Methods: A study of diagnostic test to determine the operating characteristics of transthoracic echocardiography for diagnosis of coronary heart disease compared to cardiac catheterization in patients with chest pain.Results: We analyzed 290 patients with an average age of 67 years and 68% male, 74.1% had hypertension and 24.5% diabetes mellitus. In 61% of patients were angiographically demonstrated coronary artery disease. The sensitivity of transthoracic echocardiography for coronary artery disease was 70%, specificity 55%, negative predictive value of 54% and positive predictive value of 71%, with an effectiveness of 65% and a predictive ability of 60.6% (p = 0.02) .Conclusions: The coronary anatomy was similar to that described previously, being present multivessel lesions by 41% and the unique vessel injury was 22% (4, 5). Given the sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 55%, ease of access, noninvasive characteristics and low cost, allow us to recommend diagnostic use as a guide in the context of chest pain in the emergency department.
