Echocardiography in COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Findings and the Importance of Emerging Technology

Alberto Barosi; Luca Bergamaschi; Ignazio Cusmano; Alessio Gasperetti; Marco Schiavone; Elisa Gherbesi

doi:10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.007

Echocardiography in COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Findings and the Importance of Emerging Technology

Card Electrophysiol Clin. 2022 Mar;14(1):71-78. doi: 10.1016/j.ccep.2021.10.007. Epub 2021 Oct 30.

Authors

Alberto Barosi¹, Luca Bergamaschi², Ignazio Cusmano², Alessio Gasperetti³, Marco Schiavone², Elisa Gherbesi²

Affiliations

¹ Cardiology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: barosi.alberto@asst-fbf-sacco.it.
² Cardiology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
³ Cardiology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy; Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract

COVID-19 could have a direct or indirect effect on the cardiovascular system. To detect cardiac involvement, transthoracic echocardiography is highly recommended. Considering the risk of equipment contamination and personnel exposure, mainly focused echocardiographic evaluations instead of complete examination are recommended and the use of portable devices easy to disinfect with offline reporting is highly suggested. COVID-19 could affect different sections of the heart and it is useful to analyze them separately during an echocardiographic examination. Available echocardiographic data on COVID-19 patients are scarce and do not provide definite evidence and more studies are certainly needed to better evaluate this topic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Echocardiography; Myocardial strain; Ultramobile devices.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / diagnostic imaging
Echocardiography
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Technology