Premium
Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography: Clinical Benefit and Practical Issues
Author(s) -
Sieswerda Gertjan T.J.,
Kamp Otto,
Visser Cees A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2000.tb01191.x
Subject(s) - microbubbles , contrast (vision) , medicine , stress echocardiography , perfusion , radiology , cardiology , ultrasound , intensive care medicine , computer science , coronary artery disease , artificial intelligence
Real‐time bedside evaluation of myocardial perfusion after intravenous application of micro‐bubbles is the ultimate goal for contrast echocardiography. Over the past decade rapid evolution has occurred in the development of contrast agents, ultrasound equipment tailored to their detection, and image interpretation. This article offers a review of the basic concepts of the technique's background, contrast agent design, and imaging technology. The major clinical indications of myocardial contrast echocardiography are evaluation of acute ischemic syndromes, diagnosis of viable myocardium following AMI, and the detection of CAD using stress contrast perfusion imaging. Furthermore, the article addresses the most significant practical problems and suggested solutions to master those problems. As major new achievements are realistic expectations for the first decade of the twenty‐first century, we conclude that the coupling of a new generation of contrast agents with innovative echocardiographic instrumentation will ultimately enable the full potential of myocardial contrast echocardiography to be realized which may revolutionize modern echocardiography.