Contrast echocardiography: experience in a clinical echocardiography laboratory

Steven J Lester; John W Askew; R Todd Hurst; Carlos A Moreno; Joseph G Hentz; Lori A Wood; Rose A Simpson; Stephen L Schneck; Rochelle Tyler; Hari P Chaliki; John J Lynch

doi:10.1016/j.echo.2006.01.025

Contrast echocardiography: experience in a clinical echocardiography laboratory

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006 Jul;19(7):919-23. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2006.01.025.

Authors

Steven J Lester¹, John W Askew, R Todd Hurst, Carlos A Moreno, Joseph G Hentz, Lori A Wood, Rose A Simpson, Stephen L Schneck, Rochelle Tyler, Hari P Chaliki, John J Lynch

Affiliation

¹ Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA.

PMID: 16825003
DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2006.01.025

Abstract

Although 2-dimensional echocardiography with adjunct intravenous contrast media improves endocardial visualization and enhances quality of spectral Doppler signals, widespread use of contrast agents has not occurred for various reasons. Results from this study indicate that discretionary use of contrast media will enhance endocardial and Doppler signal visualization scores without an impact on total procedure duration, lending credence to an argument for a lower threshold for discretionary use of contrast media.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Echocardiography / methods*
Female
Humans
Image Enhancement / methods*
Male
Observer Variation
Prognosis
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging*