Randomised trials involving large number of patients have demonstrated the benefits of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure who have failed optimal medical treatment. Echocardiography plays an important role in defining dyssynchrony which is key to optimal patient selection. The electrocardiographic criteria for patient selection is supplemented by the finding ...

Assessment of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft patency currently requires invasive investigation through coronary angiography. In the last years the successful application of noninvasive Doppler spectrum analysis has been reported for patency assessment of the LIMA graft after myocardial revascularization. Echocardiography is considered to be a sensitive noninvasive screening modal...

Measurements of mitral and aortic valve flows were obtained with two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography in 25 patients with isolated mitral (n = 19) or aortic (n = 6) regurgitation and regurgitant fraction was calculated as the difference between the two flows divided by the flow through the regurgitant valve. Results were compared with measurements of regurgitant fraction determined by combi...

This review focuses on transthoracic Doppler echocardiography as noninvasive method used to assess coronary flow reserve (CFR) in a wide spectrum of clinical settings. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is rapidly gaining appreciation as popular tool to measure CFR both in stenosed and normal epicardial coronary arteries (predominantly in left anterior descending coronary artery). Post-sten...

Assessment of diastolic function and left ventricular filling pressures in the setting of both normal and reduced systolic function is of major importance particularly in patients with dyspnea. Since multiple echocardiography parameters are used to assess diastolic function each with some limitations, a comprehensive approach should be applied. Transmitral Doppler flow should be evaluated in co...

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has advanced the role of the cardiovascular anesthesiologist and increased his/her active role and obligations during perioperative patient care. Assessment of global and regional left ventricular (LV) function consists of two-dimensional (2D) or Doppler evaluation of cardiac structures and their interaction with blood flow. The techniques used are mostly ...

Cardiomyopathies are common cardiac disorders that primarily affect cardiac muscle resulting in cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. Transgenic mouse disease models have been developed to investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying heart failure and sudden cardiac death observed in cardiomyopathy cases and to explore the therapeutic outcomes in experimental animals in vivo. Echocardiograph...

Echocardiography is the most common diagnostic tool for patients with heart disease, providing detailed information about cardiovascular morphology and hemodynamics previously available only by angiography and catheterization. It is noninvasive, widely available and inexpensive. With its huge evidence base, echocardiography has a central position in modern cardiac diagnosis and management. Rece...

Two noninvasive methods of cardiac index (Q) determination, pulsed Doppler echocardiography (QDop), and CO2 rebreathing (QCO2) were compared to dye dilution in eight normal volunteers. Measurements of Q were made by dye dilution (QDD) and the two noninvasive techniques under the following conditions: supine rest, after inflation of cuffs around the thighs, 35-degree head-up tilt, supine rest re...