Clinical Application of Echocardiography

Authoritative Textbooks

Otto C.

The Practice of Clinical Echocardiography. 3rd ed.

Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders 2007

Download the document here     

Key References

Appropriateness Criteria for Stress Echocardiography ACCF/ASE/ACEP/AHA/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2008

Douglas PM, Khandheria BK, Stainback RF, Weissman NJ, Peterson ED, Hendel RC, Blaivas M, Des Prez RD, Gilla, Golash T, Hiratzka LT, Kussmaul WG, Labovitz AJ, Lindenfeld JA, Masoudi FA, Mayo PH, Porembka D, Spertus JA, Wann LS, Wiegers SE, Brindis RG, Patel MR, Wolk MJ, Allen JM.

Comment:

A report from the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) together with key specialty and subspecialty societies about appropriateness of stress echocardiography. The review assessed the risks and benefits of stress echocardiography for several indications or clinical scenarios and scored them on a scale of 1 to 9 (based upon methodology developed by the ACCF to assess imaging appropriateness).

Reference: Am Coll Cardiol 2008

Appropriateness Criteria for Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2007

Pamela S. Douglas

Comment:

A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Quality Strategic Directions Committee Appropriateness Criteria Working Group, American Society of Echocardiography, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Endorsed by the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care MedicineTTE/TEE.

Appropriateness Criteria for Transthoracic and Transesophageal Echocardiography ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2007

Pamela S. Douglas

Comment:

A Report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation Quality Strategic Directions Committee Appropriateness Criteria Working Group, American Society of Echocardiography, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Endorsed by the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care MedicineTTE/TEE.

Echocardiography in heart failure: applications, utility, and new horizons

Kirkpatrick JN, Vannan MA, Narula J, Lang RM.

Comment:

A review summarizing strengths and limitations of echocardiography in heart failure patients focusing on: 1. the clinical use of the technique and its prognostic value; 2. the utility of the technique in guiding treatment; and 3. promising future techniques for echocardiographic based imaging
Reference: J Am Coll Cardiol 2007; 50: 381-396

Diastolic function: a sonographer's approach to the essential echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular diastolic function

Gilman G, Nelson TA, Hansen WH, Kandheria BK, Ommen SR

Comment:

A practical review which starting from referral diagnosis and patient’s symptoms provides a step-by-step approach to goal-directed echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function.
Reference: J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007;20:199-209

Lester SJ. Echocardiographic assessment of right heart hemodynamic parameters

Lee KS, Abbas AE, Khandheria BK.

Comment:

A systematic review of the echocardiographic methods used to estimate right heart hemodynamic parameters. Three dimensional assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction is not included.
Reference: J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2007;20:773-782

Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Semsarian C.

Reference: Heart Lung Circ. 2007;16:16-18

Guidelines on the management of valvular heart disease: The Task Force on the Management of Valvular Heart Disease of the European Society of Cardiology

Vahanian A, Baumgartner H, Bax J, Butchart E, Dion R, Filippatos G, Flachskampf FA, Hall R, Iung B, Kasprzak J, Nataf P, Tornos P, Torracca L, Wenink A.   

Reference: Eur Heart J. 2007;28:230-268

Protocol for optimal detection and exclusion of a patent foramen ovale using transthoracic echocardiography with agitated saline microbubbles

Attaran RR, Ata I, Kudithipudi V et al.

Comment:

A description of techniques and guidelines for the detection and exclusion of of a patent foramen ovale. The potential for misinterpretation of this bubble studies are also discussed.
Reference:Echocardiography. 2006;23:616-622

The echocardiographic evaluation of intracardiac masses: a review

Peters PJ, Reinhardt S.

Comment:

A review on how to diagnose primary and metastatic tumors of the heart using echocardiography.
Reference: J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2006;19:230-240

Clinical application of noninvasive vascular ultrasound in cardiovascular risk stratification: a report from the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Vascular Medicine and Biology 

Roman MJ, Naqvi TZ, Gardin JMm Gerhard-Herman M, Jaff M, Mohler E.

Comment:

Review about the use of ultrasound as an adjunct to standard cardiovascular risk factors to refine atherosclerosis risk stratification. Both carotid artery imaging and brachial artery reactivity testing techniques methodology and clinical values are discussed.

Reference: J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006;19:943-954

A critical review of patent foramen ovale detection using saline contrast echocardiography: when bubbles lie

Woods TD, Patel A.

Comment:

A review of the mechanisms by which saline contrast studies may produce both false-positive and false-negative results for presence of patent foramen ovale.

Reference: J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2006;19:215-222

Recommendations for chamber quantification

Lang RM, Bierig M, Devereux RB, Flachskampf FA, Foster E, Pellikka PA, Picard MH, Roman MJ, Seward J, Shanewise J, Solomon S, Spencer KT, St John Sutton M, Stewart W.  

Comment:
A critical review of the literature and an update of recommendations on how to quantitate cardiac chambers using echocardiography made jointly by the American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Echocardiography.

Reference: Eur J Echocardiogr. 2005;7:79-108