Prospects for transpulmonary contrast echocardiography

Efficacy and adverse effects of transpulmonary contrast echocardiography using sonicated albumin.

We studied the feasibility and adverse effects of transpulmonary contrast echocardiography using sonicated albumin in 6 dogs. Left heart contrast was observed by two-dimensional echocardiography, monitoring left ventricular pressure, its first derivative (dP/dt) and arterial oxygen saturation. The left heart was adequately opacified in 48 of 55 injections of various intravenous doses of sonicat...

Contrast Echocardiography

Ultrasound contrast agents are widely used in clinical practice for left ventricle opacification in sub-optimal echocardiograms. Recently, significant research has focused on the use of contrast echocardiography as a non-invasive means to evaluate myocardial perfusion. Advances in contrast agents as well as ultrasound technology have enabled investigations into myocardial contrast echocardiogra...

Contrast Enhanced Echocardiography for Detection of Intrapulmonary Shunts in Liver Transplant Candidates

Background: Intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities associated with liver cirrhosis may result in intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt and hypoxemia. The aim of this study was to use contrast enhanced echocardiography to detect intrapulmonary vascular abnormalities in patients with liver cirrhosis candidates for liver transplantation. Methods: One hundred and two adult patients underwent contrast e...

Myocardial contrast echocardiography.

MCE has evolved from a laboratory tool to a clinical procedure. It would be wrong to consider it merely another tool for imaging of myocardial perfusion. As discussed, it allows physicians to bring physiology and pathophysiology to the bedside, providing a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of abnormal findings in individual patients. MCE can provide quantitative measurements tha...

3D Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography