Mitral Valve Disease
Abstract Mitral valve disease (MVD) constitutes one of the most prevalent forms of valvular heart disease and is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography plays an important role…
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Abstract Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by unexplained myocardial hypertrophy (hypertrophy that develops in the absence of other attributable etiology), myocyte disarray, and myocardial fibrosis. Echocardiographic imaging has played a…
Aortic Valve Disease
Abstract Echocardiography plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of aortic valve disease with the introduction of transcatheter aortic valve replacement greatly expanding its role in guiding treatment….
Echocardiography in Assessment of Cardiac Synchrony
Abstract Electromechanical association in a normal heart results in synchronous regional left ventricular (LV) contraction. Differences in the timing of regional contraction may be associated with the failing human heart….
Restrictive and Infiltrative Cardiomyopathies
Abstract The primary abnormality in restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is diastolic dysfunction in the presence of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, with gradually increasing left ventricular end diastolic and left atrial…
Echocardiography in Assessment of Ventricular Assist Devices
Abstract Mechanical circulatory support by ventricular assist devices (VAD) is increasing in the acute and chronic clinical care of heart failure patients. Echocardiography may help guide patient selection as well…
Stress Echocardiography and Echo in Cardiopulmonary Testing
Abstract Stress echocardiography is an established tool to assess for both myocardial ischemia and viability. However, the utility of exercise echocardiography extends beyond the evaluation of coronary artery disease. Assessing…
Echo On-Call: Echocardiographic Emergencies
Abstract Echocardiography can play a key role in emergency situations such as complications of myocardial infarction, pericardial tamponade, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolus, and trauma is discussed. Key echocardiographic findings, significance,…
Dilated Cardiomyopathies
Abstract Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is predominantly diagnosed according to echocardiographic features that include left ventricular or biventricular dilation and reduced systolic function. Current classification schemes from major heart societies exclude…
Mechanical Complications of Myocardial Infarction
Abstract Acute and subacute complications of myocardial infarction are often life-threatening and should be recognized by the astute sonographer. These include acute mitral valve disruption and consequent mitral regurgitation (flail…
