American Society of Echocardiography Recommendations for Performance, Interpretation, and Application of Stress Echocardiography

Stress echocardiography is a well-validated tool for detection and assessment of CAD. Its prognostic value has been well documented in multiple large studies, which have demonstrated its role for preoperative risk stratification before noncardiac surgery, recovery of function of viable myocardium, and identification of patients at increased risk of cardiac events and death. The test is less expensive than other stress imaging modalities, providing accuracy for detection of CAD and prognostic information equivalent to SPECT perfusion imaging. Moreover, it has great versatility, permitting assessment of valvular and pericardial abnormalities, chamber sizes, and wall thicknesses.