Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by fatigue, breathlessness, and edema caused by an abnormality of heart function. While the etiologies of HF differ, and HF can occur with reduced or preserved ejection fraction, or with low or…
Introduction Substantial changes in cardiac structure can occur in the months to years following a completed myocardial infarct (MI), particularly if the culprit coronary artery supplied a large territory or flow was not rapidly restored. These changes may be clinically…
Introduction There is a short list of structural complications of which every cardiologist and sonographer must be aware that may arise in the subacute period after myocardial infarct (MI), that, within the first week ( Box 19.1 ). These are…
Introduction Acute myocardial infarction (MI), the classic “heart attack,” is caused by the sudden loss of blood flow and oxygenation to the heart muscle due to complete occlusion of a coronary artery. The risk factors, clinical presentation, and serial changes…
Introduction With each cardiac cycle, the left and right atria act as reservoirs, conduits, and pumps for blood traveling from the pulmonary and systemic veins into the ventricles. Normally functioning atria are compliant, with the ability to accommodate dynamic changes…
Introduction The assessment of right ventricular (RV) structure and function is one of the most critical roles of echocardiography, often impacting the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of patients with suspected cardiovascular disease. Historically, the echocardiographic assessment of diseases affecting the…
Introduction Echocardiography plays a central role in the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, which is often a challenging task for the clinician. Normal diastolic function allows for the LV to sufficiently fill and to generate the necessary stroke…
Introduction A major goal of the echocardiographic examination is the assessment of left ventricular (LV) structure and systolic function. This plays a critically important role in the diagnosis, risk evaluation, and management of patients with suspected or established cardiovascular disease.…
Introduction Echocardiography can be used appropriately to diagnose and triage emergent situations. The life-threatening pathologies in which real-time assessment by echocardiography can be critical include pericardial tamponade, aortic dissection, acute myocardial infarction (MI), acute pulmonary embolus (PE), and cardiac trauma.…
Introduction Contrast echocardiography describes a set of specialized cardiovascular ultrasound techniques that rely on the administration of acoustically active contrast agents to complement standard imaging and Doppler echocardiography. Although there are many different types of acoustically active ultrasound contrast agents,…