Case Based Echocardiography. Fundamentals and Clinical Practice

Echocardiography remains the most commonly used cardiac imaging modality in clinical care and is now considered an extension of the stethoscope with other physicians, such as interventional cardiologists and internists, often viewing and interpreting echocardiograms. Technology advances in echocardiography such as tissue Doppler/strain and 3D echocardiography have further extended its clinical scope, while cardiac imaging is rapidly extending beyond the heart with laboratories now incorporating various vascular imaging protocols as part of their clinical activity. Lastly, the emerging focus on continuing education and certification in echocardiography puts pressure on physicians to keep abreast of basic and new techniques in echocardiography

Case-Based Echocardiography: Fundamentals And Clinical Practice has been developed to offer a succinct guide to the discipline, incorporating topics ranging from fundamental physical principles to important cardiac pathologies and novel technologies. It has been designed to provide this knowledge in a novel, condensed format, enabling easy and quick reference to topics and also enables its use in a bedside situation to enhance performance and interpretation of echocardiographic data. The content will also assist readers in preparing for competency tests in echocardiography such as the echocardiography boards.

To give the reader the benefit of most meaningful and up-to-date content, Dr Abraham has assembled a group of renowned experts in echocardiography with substantial experience in various specific echocardiography technologies. The result is a compact yet highly informative clinical handbook that provides as much if not more knowledge than most textbooks with a significantly less investment of time.

Case Based Echocardiography will provide a case-based introduction/primer to the practice of echocardiography with liberal use of images and actual patient histories. The reader will be able to gain extensive practical knowledge of the practice of echocardiography with the use of these case reports. These will concentrate on the skills necessary to increase specialist knowledge of echocardiography practice.

Physics, Artifacts. Physical basis ultrasound, cardiac imaging. Artifacts mistaken for cardiac pathology-LV mass, volumes.Qualitative quantitative determination of LV wall thickness, mass. Qualitative quantitative determination of LV volumes.-LV function.Ejection fraction assessment. -Mode.Common pathologies for M mode use.-Wall motion stress.Assess regional wall motion.Normal, hypokinetic akinetic wall motion.Wall motion analysis.Stress echocardiography protocols-exercise;dobutamine;dipyridamole.Problem solving.-RV function assessment.Visual assessment of RV size, function.Tissue Doppler in RV assessment.-Valvular heart disease.Assessing valves.Mitral stenosis,regurgitation.Aortic stenosis, regurgitation.Pulmonary stenosis,regurgitation.Tricuspid stenosis, regurgitation.Multivalvular involvement: rheumatic disease; carcinoid; diet drugs.Prosthetic valve assessment.Infective endocarditis.-Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).Protocol for TEE.Standard TEE views.TEE Limitations.Emergency applications of TEE:dissection etc.Methemoglobinemia treatment.-Echo contrast.Contrast agents.Indications in clinical practice.Protocol for contrast use.Problems resolution.-Cardiomyopathies.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Infiltrative cardiomyopathy.Dilated cardiomyopathy.-Tissue Doppler clinical uses.Fundamentals,Tissue Doppler.Applications.How to do Tissue Doppler.Assessment of dyssynchrony.Strain imaging.-Diastolic function assessment.-Mitral inflow.Pulmonary vein flow.Tissue Doppler.Flow propogation velocity.Grades of diastolic dysfunction.-The pericardium.Pericardial effusion.Pericarditis.Tamponade physiology.Constriction V restriction physiology.Echo-guided pericardiocentesis.-Cardiac masses.-3-D echocardiography.Principles.3D images.Clinical situations,3DE.-Adult congenital problems.VSD.ASD.Others.-Vascular imaging.Carotid intima media thickness.Brachial reactivity.Augmentation index.

The authors are all internationally renowned experts in echocardiography and have considerable experience in training echocardiography staff in all aspects of best practice. Dr Abraham is based at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and Dr Miller is based at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester.