TY - JOUR
T1 - Left ventricular opacification at rest and during stress
AU - Grayburn, Paul A.
AU - Mulvagh, Sharon
AU - Crouse, Linda
PY - 2002/11/18
Y1 - 2002/11/18
N2 - Although echocardiography is the most widely used cardiac imaging modality in the world, it is often limited by poor endocardial border definition. The development of contrast agents that opacify the cardiac chambers after intravenous injection now makes it possible to acquire high-quality images, even in technically difficult cases. Several studies have now shown that contrast echocardiography improves assessment of global and regional wall motion, enhances observer agreement, and salvages technically difficult studies. In addition, contrast echocardiography is valuable in specific settings, such as the intensive care unit or emergency department, where high-quality images are often most difficult to acquire. Finally, obstacles to the penetration of contrast echocardiography into routine clinical practice (such as cost/reimbursement, logistics, and education) are discussed.
AB - Although echocardiography is the most widely used cardiac imaging modality in the world, it is often limited by poor endocardial border definition. The development of contrast agents that opacify the cardiac chambers after intravenous injection now makes it possible to acquire high-quality images, even in technically difficult cases. Several studies have now shown that contrast echocardiography improves assessment of global and regional wall motion, enhances observer agreement, and salvages technically difficult studies. In addition, contrast echocardiography is valuable in specific settings, such as the intensive care unit or emergency department, where high-quality images are often most difficult to acquire. Finally, obstacles to the penetration of contrast echocardiography into routine clinical practice (such as cost/reimbursement, logistics, and education) are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037131935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037131935&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9149(02)02862-X
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9149(02)02862-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 12450587
AN - SCOPUS:0037131935
SN - 0002-9149
VL - 90
SP - 21
EP - 27
JO - American Journal of Cardiology
JF - American Journal of Cardiology
IS - 10 SUPPL. 1
ER -