Final answer:
The advantage of using TTE for coronary care patients is its portability and non-invasive nature. TTE allows for a detailed real-time ultrasound imaging of the heart's structure and function at the bedside, which is essential in the acute care setting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantage of using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for patients in the coronary care unit are both its portability (A) and non-invasive nature (B). TTE is a diagnostic tool that provides real-time imaging of the heart using ultrasound waves, offering a non-invasive way to evaluate heart function and structure. It gives detailed information about the heart's valves, chambers, the flow of blood, and can detect abnormalities.
Compared to other cardiac imaging methods such as ECG, which records electrical activity, TTE provides a more comprehensive view of the heart's mechanical function which is vital for diagnosing and monitoring coronary care unit patients. Advancements in technology have made TTE devices highly portable, allowing for bedside evaluations that are critical in the acute setting of coronary care units.
Although it is a cost-effective and valuable tool in cardiology, TTE is not as sensitive as magnetocardiography (MCG) which can detect electrical activity of the heart too slight to be captured by conventional surface electrodes in EKG. However, TTE is more commonly used given its accessibility, ease of use, and ability to deliver quick results in assessing cardiac functions. Thus, the correct answer is 'D. Both A and B'.